Bellringers at a Wiltshire church had a nasty surprise when they reported for their usual Sunday duty.

Two of the bellringers at Holy Trinity Church in Bradford on Avon were stung after around 80 bees invaded their space in the belfry over the last May bank holiday weekend.

They were forced to abandon their bellringing practice the following day and call in a pair of local beekeepers to sort out the swarm.

Wiltshire Times: Beekeepers Judith Holland and Kevin Elliott clean up the invasion of bees in the belfry at Holy Trinity Church Bradford on Avon. Photo: Trevor Porter 69905-1Beekeepers Judith Holland and Kevin Elliott clean up the invasion of bees in the belfry at Holy Trinity Church Bradford on Avon. Photo: Trevor Porter 69905-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Former church warden and beekeeper Judith Holland was concerned about the bees being in the belfry when church bellringers were there.

She and champion local grower Kevin Elliott, who also keeps bees, found the bees had flown in through a hole in the wall of the bell tower.

Mr Elliott said: “There is a beehive high up on the other side of the tower where you can see them flying about but they must have found a way to get into the belfry.

“Judith vacuumed out the bees from the hole, and I slapped in some quick drying cement to block it up while she cleaned up the bees that had fallen on the floor.

The tower is due to open to the public during the Holy Trinity Church Street Market in Bradford on Avon on Saturday, July 1.