There was a buzz around a garden centre's display as temperatures soared in Kent today.

B&Q, in Larkfield, was forced to close it's outdoor section of the store at around 9am today, as around 10,000 honey bees swarmed to find new refuge in a hanging basket.

Local representatives from Mid Kent Beekeeper's Association attended the home improvement store, on London Road, to put a temporary hive up and to check on the welbeing of the 'cast'.

Keith Underwood, chairman of the Mid-Kent Maidstone and Swale Beekeepers’ Association claims it's fairly common for bees to relocate at this time of the year.

It would appear to be a result of the hot weather the county experienced today.

He said: "It's not unusual for them to swarm in August, the most likely explanation is that they got overcrowded.

"It's probable they made a strong colony earlier in the year and that a number of them followed the new queen."

The general manager of the store, Nik Fowden, said: "The guys did a fantastic job, we had to close our garden centre and haven't reopened for the rest of the day. We're happy to protect a protected species.

"The loss of custom is the least of our worries, we'll make it up over time - our customers' safety and rescuing the bees is more important to us."

It's not the first time bees have moved during the warmer weather, as a number were discovered in the bonnet of a Mini earlier this year.

The temporary hive was removed at around 8pm, and the store re-opened as usual for the weekend.

Mr Fowden added: "The queen was found and the bees collected and taken to an apiary in North Kent.

"We do have a few remaining scouts still picking up the queen's scent but the hive itself has gone.

"We will be happy to offer discounts of flowers to customers affected by the disruption."

The offer applies to Saturday, August 22 only.

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