A massive swarm of around 25,000 bees invaded a family's back garden and set up a makeshift hive under a trampoline.
Matthew Grice, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, said he heard an 'immense' buzzing noise and saw a huge black cloud flying over the house before the bees gradually invaded the trampoline.
Matthew, his partner Sara Kennard, their 10-year-old daughter Hollie and their two pooches Dougall and Millie were left too scared to leave their home until a beekeeper came and took the insects away.
Advert
Sara said: "Matthew is petrified of anything like that.
"He said there was a black cloud coming over the house and then they just swarmed onto the trampoline steps.
"The noise was immense, he could hear it from inside the house.
"He daren't go outside and we had to keep my daughter and the dogs in. It was 24 hours of mayhem.
"I got back from work and walked up the garden but I didn't even notice them because they were all congregated.
Advert
"As soon as I walked in the house, he was panicking and didn't know how I'd missed them. He was terrified.
"Some were flying around but there was just a massive ball of bees in the trampoline.
"I just couldn't believe the size of it.
"There must have been one queen because there were so many of them."
The family decided the safest option to keep themselves inside while Sara looked online for advice on how to safely remove them. She eventually found a beekeeper who was able to come and take them away 24 hours later.
Advert
Sara continued: "The weather was really nice, my daughter wanted to play out but we had to keep her inside with the dogs because Millie the dog is pregnant so I was concerned for them.
"Hollie has learning difficulties so she knew that they were bees and knew she shouldn't go outside but she didn't understand how serious it was."
She added: "I'm not bothered by bees because they don't sting unless you've upset them, they aren't like wasps. They don't go out to sting you.
"I'm fascinated by them and had to get up close to take the photos.
Advert
"I posted photos on Facebook to ask for advice and beekeepers were getting in touch saying they wanted them but I called the Bee Association in the end and they took them away.
"They said there must have been around 25,000 of them.
"There were just a couple of dead ones left over in the end which I just swept away so the dogs didn't get to them."
Advert
Featured Image Credit: Mercury Press