"A lot of people were really amazed by it, cars were slowing down and people were taking pictures of it.

"I was a little bit concerned, with it being in the middle of town outside a pub, that someone might do something stupid and get hurt or do something stupid and hurt the bees," he said.

"As I drove past I noticed this big brown splodge on the back of a car.

"I had seen swarms before settle on things like this but never one as large as this. It was quite a thing to see - certainly a 'wow' moment.

"I was really worried that someone could get hurt by them or that someone might damage them in their bid to clear the car so I stopped to help out.

"It is fair to say I had a sting in the tale - I was stung to my head, neck and the back of my ears. But I took some anti-histamines and they are not too bad now.”

However, after returning to her car, Mrs Howarth drove home believing the problem had been resolved, only to discover on Monday morning that the swarm had followed her and were again covering the car.