A HOBBY in decline in other parts of the country seems to be creating a buzz in East Lancashire.

The number of bee keepers in East Lancashire is rising according to Blackburn and East Lancashire Branch of the British Bee Keepers Association.

Yesterday the organisation held an open day at Towneley Hall, Burnley, to show the public what the age old hobby entails.

Secretary John Zamorski, 57, said the branch currently has about 80 members.

He said: "The exhibition was to show the public what bee keeping is about. It is a very absorbing hobby and once people start they normally do it for the rest of their life.

"Bee keeping in this country has declined over the past 20 to 30 years but recently in East Lancashire there has been a revival and the numbers involved in the hobby are rising.

"In other places it is a dying hobby but across East Lancashire there seems to be a lot of interest in bee keeping."

John, who lives in Clitheroe, keeps 16 colonies of honey bees which amounts to about 800,000 bees producing plenty of honey each year.

He said a reason for the decline in bee keeping could be linked to the Varroa, an Asian blood sucking mite and the East Lancashire branch are very strict about ensuring members limit the opportunity for them to damage colonies.

The branch are now trying to breed the British Black Bee - virtually extinct after becoming a victim of Isle of Wight disease - at their apiary. John, who is also a swarm catcher, became interested in bee keeping as a child when he used to watch a bee keeper. He said despite the fact he gets stung everyday, he enjoys the hobby.

He said: "When you have the colonies I do you are liable to be stung. I am stung mainly on my hands because I do not wear heavy gloves as you cannot tell if you are being rough with them on.

"I don't treat them but it is only painful for a few minutes and the swelling goes down quite quickly. I am used to it now."