A DISABLED man, plagued by a swarm of bumble bees nesting under the floorboards of his council home, has accused environmental health officers of ignoring the problem for three days.

Bryn Reynolds, 55, complained to Hyndburn Council about the insects when they started pouring out of his sinks.

He said: "I could hear them buzzing under the floorboards and they were coming into the house through the sink and walls. I've killed hundreds in the last few days and they were massive.

"Some were dying on their own because they couldn't get out while we were killing others ourselves. It was terrible."

Bryn, who lives on Cherry Crescent, Oswaldtwistle, with his wife Kathleen, 43, and two sons, Paul, 17, and nine-year-old Jamie, suffers from arthritis and bronchitis. He believes the swarm got into the house after he had a shower fitted.

He added: "I think there must have been a loose pipe and as the weather got warmer the bees came in and made their nest here.

"They were in the bathroom and kitchen, causing a threat to our safety, but the council didn't seem bothered."

The council has now freed some of the bees and sprayed the rest with insecticide. A representative claimed the work was delayed because officials thought the swarm were honey bees.

Head of Environmental Health at Hyndburn Council Stephen Todd said: "The council are not allowed to deal with cases of nesting honey bees because they are a protected species and we usually tell residents to contact the local beekeeper."

Environmental health officer John Davis added: "As soon as we realised they were bumble bees we took appropriate action to remove them."

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