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A couple were left stunned after HONEY started to seep through their ceiling - because a hive of hundreds of busy bees had formed in their attic.

The swarm was discovered at the Grade II listed 18th Century house in Market Harborough, Leics., earlier this month.

The homeowners, who did not wish to be identified, grew concerned after finding a "sticky substance" in their light fittings.

They later discovered sweet honey pouring down through the ceiling of one of their bathrooms.

(Image: Ecclesiastical / SWNS.com)

The pair were able to make a claim through Ecclesiastical insurers, and eventually had the hive removed and the ceiling replaced.

David Bonehill, claims director for the company, said: "Claims for this type of damage in older properties are relatively common.

"Usually leaking pipework is the cause rather than honey.

"A small drip of water or any liquid substance can cause huge amounts of damage if left for a long period of time, so we advise all of our clients to regularly check rooms that are not in use, for signs of water or other damage."

(Image: Ecclesiastical / SWNS.com)

A spokeswoman for Ecclesiastical added: "The couple noticed a patch and on closer inspection they could see that the substance was sticky and coming through the light fixtures.

"They also noticed a lot of bees around the house and at this point sought an expert view.

"The bees expert made a hole in the ceiling and discovered the huge hive."

(Image: Getty)

Stewart Moss, from Lycetts Insurance Brokers, added: "This certainly is an interesting claim.

"With large properties, attics and rooms can often go unchecked for long periods of time and this gave the bees the opportunity to build quite an impressive home."