An invasion of Asian hornets could hit English shores, after the number of nests found on Jersey rose by almost a third in one year.

In 2018 55 nests were removed from the Channel Island, but so far this year 65 have been removed with another five possible sightings.

The increase is even more striking compared to 2016, the first year the nests were found on Jersey, when just three were removed.

Volunteers fighting to stem the rise of the species, which eats native honey bees, said “the war has been lost” in trying to eradicate them, but efforts to control the spread are continuing.