Police have cordoned off part of West Wickham after a swarm of bees invaded the High Street.

The emergency services were called just before 4pm today (April 21) to the escaped hive, who have made a beeline for an off-license.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: “We were called today to reports of some bees who have attached themselves to a road sign.

“A member of the public has called a bee keeper who we believe is at the scene.

“We have closed the pavement.”

Eyewitness Maribel Knellor said: "I've never seen anything like it before, I thought there had been a raid on one of the shops.

"Everyone was giving it a wide berth, the police had closed the shops, I suppose they don't want anyone to get stung."

The 41-year-old, from Shirley, added: "They were all swarming over the sign, they were just flying about everywhere. People were standing well back."

Bee keeper John Large, of Oxleas Wood, said: "They're probably swarming, last week of April first week of May they do this this time of year.

"The present queen lays eggs, around 20 new queens, in special cells and around 30 per cent of the hive, the young bees, leave the hive.

"They stay close around 150 metres away and send scouts back to check the new queen in the hive to make sure they're happy.

"This is how they reproduce. 

"If a bee keeper is there, all you need to do is find the queen in the swarm the rest will follow wherever she goes. People always panic."

More to follow.

Can you see what is happening? Get in touch on Rebecca.Flood@london.newsquest.co.uk