‘Bee-nappers’ raid stately home’s hives in honey heist

MORE than 24,000 bees have been stolen from a stately home in an apparent “bee-napping” heist.

Hives containing thousands of bees were stolen from an estate likened to the setting for Downton Abbey in the first case of rustling in Britain this year.

Amanda Clayton, 53, a beekeeper, lost at least four “irreplaceable” queens when the colonies were raided on Wednesday. The thieves made off with six hives at the 13th-century Hooton Pagnell Hall in South Yorkshire.

Mrs Clayton said she believed the theft of her stock, worth an estimated £2,000, was carried out by “someone who knew what they were doing”. Four of the hives were “swarming” with bees and honey was nearly ready to harvest.

Well-kept bees can be lucrative for their owners, with honey selling for about £5 for a half-pound jar.

Mrs Clayton added: “It has to be another beekeeper, which breaks my heart to say. I’m angry that someone has come along and taken something we have taken so long to build up.”

The incident has been reported to South Yorkshire Police.