/ 5 September 2006

Runny honey causes bee scare in Switzerland

A leak of honey at a Swiss transport company drew a swarm of hungry bees and forced the emergency services to step in, police said on Tuesday.

Hundreds of litres of honey flooded out of a damaged barrel, which was part of a shipment from Mexico, and thousands of bees spread the word that the feast was on, said Basel police spokesperson Klaus Mannhart.

Called in to end the feeding frenzy, local firefighters donned protective clothing and scooped up the honey with spades.

The unwanted guests headed off after the honey covered floor had been hosed down.

No one was stung. — AFP