A LARGE Asian Hornet nest has been found in a garden in Rayleigh.

The British Beekeepers Association has confirmed an Asian Hornet nest has been found and removed.

They say it was found 20 feet up a sycamore tree in a private garden in Rayleigh.

A spokesman for the British Beekeepers Association added: “The Asian Hornet nest detected at Rayleigh in Essex after a beekeeper found three hornets on their property has been removed.

Echo: Nest found (Pic: British Beekeepers Association)Nest found (Pic: British Beekeepers Association) (Image: N/A)

“The nest which looks quite large will now be analysed by government scientist to see if they can determine where the hornets came from and if queens for the next season have already been released.

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“Further traps have been put out in Rayleigh to see if there is another nest.

“The Asian Hornet below feeding on ivy was found by one of the people taking part in the hunt for the nest.”

The discovery of the nest comes after the National Bee Unit and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) issued a warning to members of the public last week following sightings of Asian Hornets in Essex.

It was the first confirmed sighting of an Asian hornet in the UK since April, and there have only been 22 sightings since 2016.

Asian Hornets are smaller than the native hornet and poses no greater risk to human health than our native wasps and hornets.

However, they do pose a serious risk to honeybees.

To report a potential sighting, email alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.