week.

After all, following a stay of about 20 years, the squatters at Hegni Associated Companies have had to buzz off.

And those were the lucky ones.

For most of the bees on the first floor balcony at the Victoria Street building a more permanent solution was in store.

Pest controller Mr. Bernard Davies and helper Mr. Ian Linnell made sure of that. The pair from Pied Piper Pest Control launched a sudden chemical offensive against the little nuisances.

And their successful operation ensured they were the bees knees with those who had endured the pests for years.

Said Mr. Davies: "We even heard people crossed the road just to avoid them.'' He added: "We used a mix of our own chemicals which got on the bees' wings and weighed them down.

"Then we sprayed them, and knocked them out. It was a quick kill.'' Mr. Davies, who runs Pied Piper, reckoned at least 2,000 bees had turned the building into a home.

They occupied a large area between the wooden joists on the balcony overlooking the junction of Victoria Street and Parliament Street.

"We had to saw away the boards just to get to them,'' explained Mr. Davies.

He added the hive was about seven foot, six inches long and two foot wide.

There was a huge amount of honey.

"There must have been gallons of the stuff, but none could be eaten because it had been ruined by the chemicals.'' Mr. Davies said neither he nor his technician Mr. Linnell wore protective clothing.

"We just had our usual uniforms. As long as you act normal bees won't attack.

"They can smell fear, though, and could become aggressive.'' Asked whether the bees could return, Mr. Davies replied: "Some did fly away and, unless they find other colonies, could come back.'' But, of course, they must know the importance of good bee-haviour!