Bad-tempered bees buzz bookworms

Angry bees swarmed around the Buller District Library after an out-of-town beekeeper parked his truck in Westport yesterday while he enjoyed his lunch. Photo / File

An out-of-town beekeeper who parked up in Westport to eat his lunch yesterday afternoon left a trail of angry bees behind him.

Local beekeeper Gary Jeffery said he was contacted by Buller District Library staff who told him there were bees swarming around their building, disturbing library visitors.

Mr Jeffery said he sent his son to deal with the problem, and he was stung as soon as he arrived.

There was no option but to kill the bees with fly spray.

Mr Jeffery said it was a lack of manners on behalf of the visiting beekeeper who must have noticed that he was losing bees from one of the hives on his truck.

The bees were a bad-tempered variety, unlike local bees, he said.

A library staff member said no bees made it into the library but a couple of hundred gathered on the windows, providing library users with a fascinating view.

She said council contractor WestReef Services put cones around the area where the bees had gathered to prevent passersby being stung before the beekeeper arrived.

- Westport News