Biker in test crash death
22,000-insect swarm plagued family’s attic room for 10 years
Pest controller David Bird and the bees behind plaster wall A HUGE hive of 22,000 bees that had plagued a family for 10 years has finally been removed from their home – with a vacuum cleaner.
Bee experts told them the colony was too delicate to move safely, but a canny pest controller finally found a way of tackling the swarm. The insects had built the hive behind the plaster of a loft conversion in the three-storey Coventry home. The family of four tried over and over again to get them removed. Eventually they had no choice but to board up the attic and leave it to the bees.
It took David Bird, who owns Delta Pest Control, several hours to hoover up the bees before transferring them to a sealed container. They were taken to an apiary in the north of England where they will be used to produce honey.
Mr Bird said: “It’s an exceptionally large colony for this time of year, we think there are around 22,000. We found somewhere nice, warm and safe for them. The swarm would have originally been the size of a basketball.
“The homeowners weren’t in any danger. Bees keep to themselves – they don’t go on attack mode easily.” A BIKER died after hitting a wall while attempting an emergency stop at a driving test centre, an inquest heard.
Christopher Evans, 39, appeared to accelerate instead of brake during the procedure, witnesses said.
The crane operations firm manager, of Chester, died on March 11 in St Helens, Merseyside.
A statement read at his inquest said: “He was declared dead at the scene.” The hearing at Southport continues.