A SWARM of bumblebees has invaded a Walthamstow woman's home.

The bees appeared in Caroline Mahon's house, in Beaconsfield Road, about two weeks ago and at first she did nothing about it.

Ms Mahon, 45, who cares for her eight-year-old granddaughter Georgia, said: “We got a few bees through the week but we got rid of them and thought no more about it.

“We went out last week. When I came back, I went to the top of the stairs and they were in the bathroom and they had covered Georgia's room. Luckily, she was at her dad's house.”

Large numbers of the insects have since returned, she said, and Ms Mahon, who is an Ascham Homes tenant, has been told she cannot have the bees exterminated as they are a protected species.

But before being told this, she had been trying to get rid of them herself.

Ms Mahon said: “There's blood and hair in the bath from the bees. I've been putting all the dead ones in cups – there's nothing else I can do.”

She added she was unable to have a bath for a week as she could not get into the bathroom.

Ms Mahon claimed Ascham Homes had sent pest control workers to her property on a number of occasions but they were unable to do anything about the problem as they could not find a nest.

She also said she has contacted the Bee Society, who said they could not help her as it was the council's responsibility to get rid of the bees.

“It's been a nightmare,” she said.

“I'm scared for my granddaughter.”

However, the council has confirmed that responsibilty the lies with the home owner or tenant, meaning there is nothing they can do to help.