Family left stunned as 'big black cloud' of 50,000 bees surrounds their home

‘We went outside to have a look and it was like a big black cloud, the video doesn’t do it justice and the noise was incredible’

A large swarm of 50,000 honey bees described as a “big black cloud” is pictured descending on a house in Cambridgeshire.

Simon Pollitt, 32, said the “noise was incredible” as thousands of the winged insects gathered above the roof of his father’s home in the village of Swavesey, near St Ives.

The professional glazier was helping his father Harry and the 66-year-old’s partner, Angela, at their allotment on Sunday and was oblivious to the swarm until a neighbour knocked on the door.

Mr Pollitt told The Independent: “We went outside to have a look and it was like a big black cloud, the video doesn’t do it justice and the noise was incredible.

“We have no idea about bees so we headed on to Facebook and we were advised to see if they would settle.

“After about half an hour they decided that a tall fern tree in the garden was home and they started forming a big ball.”

Mr Pollitt was particularly concerned because his father’s partner is allergic to bee stings.

“Having all of them so close was quite frightening for her,” he said.

Eventually a local bee keeper managed to cut down a branch with the bees on and put them inside a box to take them away.

“He said it’s the biggest swarm he’s seen this year and easily 50,000 to 60,000 honey bees,” said Mr Pollitt.