Residents fear nothing will be done to stop a swarm of bees terrorising their Walthamstow homes as they are an endangered species.

The bees nest appeared within the external wall of a property in Forest Road around a fortnight ago.

Since then, residents say they have been plagued by the infestation and been repeatedly stung as the swarm takes hold.

Waltham Forest council and East Thames housing association, which owns the property, say the insects cannot be removed after they were identified as endangered honey bees.

Stella Kearns, 50, who lives next door to the nest, said: “I have been stung twice, including once on my neck.

“The bees come into the house at night so we cannot open the windows.
“They attack you when you go outside as well.

“I spoke to my neighbour who lives on the top floor and she was clearly quite distressed when I saw her.

“We have lived here quite a long time and we have had bees before, but they just sent someone to get rid of them.

“This is serious and it is becoming dangerous.”

Honey bees are not protected in the UK, but are classed as an endangered species.

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) says nests should only be moved if they pose a significant health and safety risk.

An East Thames spokesman: “We are working with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Waltham Forest council and a pest control agency to determine the best course of action.

“Honey bees are endangered, therefore we need to be incredibly careful to not harm them.

“We have been assured the bees do not pose a risk unless they are threatened, and they will naturally disperse by the end of summer.”

“Once the bees leave the nesting site they will not return the following year.”

Cllr Clyde Loakes, Waltham Forest council deputy leader, said: “A specialist contractor advised that at present there is no further action they can take.

"The council has escalated the issue with East Thames to see what else can be done.”