SHOPPERS were left shocked on Monday when a swarm of 10,000 bees descended onto the Market Square and settled outside the Italian restaurant Leonardo's.

The colony were searching for a new hive locations and used the railings outside the restaurant as a temporary base whilst scout bees hunted out the area.

Fortunately Reg Davis from the Salisbury and District Beekeepers Association was quickly on hand to secure the area with a temporary box and will now rehome the nomadic bees to an owner looking to start a colony.

Nobody was hurt by the bees although an intrigued crowd gathered around the railings to take photographs of the new arrivals. It is likely that they had only travelled a few hundred yards from a hive near to the river.

Reg is one of a number of trained bee keepers that remain on call in case an incident such as this takes place.

"I am probably called out between 50 to 100 times a year," he said. "After we have captured them we will give them to somebody who has taken our training.

"The box that I put over them just encourages them to stay where they are because they like the darkness, then when they are in bed for the night I will come back and get them."

Reg speculated the hive decided to move location either because they had outgrown their original hive or a new Queen had been born.

"It might be because the incumbent Queen was failing so then they will put down half a dozen new Queen cells," he added. "Then the first one out will kill the others.

"They are very clever animals and can survive up to two days without food."

He added although they are largely harmless they can become defensive if stirred which is why only a trained beekeeper should handle them.

The Salisbury and District Beekeepers Association offers a six-part course on looking after bee hives and new members are welcome to sign-up.

For more information on the group visit salisburybka.co.uk.