Shops are buzzing! (From Thisisdorset)

Shops are buzzing!

8:41am Monday 18th June 2007 in

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THERE were literally swarms of visitors to a Bournemouth shopping centre on Sunday.

Visitors to the Castlepoint Shopping Centre were fascinated when around 2,000 bees descended on a parking post outside the Virgin Megastore on the upper level.

The swarm which arrived at around 1.30pm, took up residence on the post for the afternoon and soon attracted a small crowd of onlookers.

None of the shops in the immediate vicinity of the bees needed to be closed to the public and after taking advice from bee experts bosses decided it was safe for the shopping centre to remain open.

A 20sqft cordon was erected around the swarm and security men posted to make sure the public did not get too close.

The swarm was removed late afternoon by an expert and transported to a place of safety.

Peter Matthews, manager of Castlepoint, joked: "Castlepoint was really buzzing today. Castlepoint seems to be home for all sorts of animals since the wagtails took up residence and we've now obviously got swarms of bees.

"They obviously took a liking to Castlepoint along with the thousands that shop here every week. However the buzz may have gone on Monday."

Shopper Mariette Blundell, 38, of Sharvells Road, Milford on Sea, visiting Castlepoint with her mother had her blue Audi car moved by staff as it was parked right next to the bees.

She said: "I think it's exciting. I was wondering what was going on with my car and thought there had been some sort of incident. I've seen swarms before in Oxfordshire. They turned the sky black."

Bournemouth and its surrounding area has been popular with the buzzing insects this summer.

A Palmair flight en route to Faro was forced to turn back to Bournemouth Airport after a swarm of bees caused engine problems.

Twenty thousand honey bees descended on Bournemouth Pier recently and a swarm of bees settled at premises in a Verwood business park.

Also, a children's dance class in Canford Heath had to be cancelled when a swarm of bees was discovered in a community centre.