Visitors to the Scottish Parliament got a shock today when they were confronted by thousands of bees.
A colony took up residence beneath a canopy at the front of the building in Edinburgh close to the public entrance.
A section of the plaza underneath the insects was cordoned off to prevent the public disturbing them and being stung.
Earlier this month the Scottish Parliament became the first legislature in the UK to have hives installed in the complex’s central gardens.
They are home to the Buckfast variety of bee, which shares its name with the tonic wine.
At first it was thought Holyrood’s new winged residents had decided to flit from their two hives.
But following an investigation the parliamentary authorities discovered the bees were interlopers from elsewhere.
A Scottish Parliament spokeswoman said: “Today’s visitors were not our bees.
“Our bees are very happy and contented in their own hives and blissfully unaware of today’s excitement.”
The insects were removed from the building by a firm called Kelvin Valley Honey – which manages and maintain the Holyrood bees – and taken them to a colony in Kilsyth.
The installation of the hives at Holyrood came amid growing concern about the decline in Edinburgh’s honey bee population.
The insects are responsible for over half of the annual pollination of all crops, produce, fruits and trees in Scotland.
Honey produced by the bees will be sold in the parliament’s shop but presiding officer Tricia Marwick has provided assurances that it will not taste of the tonic wine.