A BEE swarm was removed from a litter bin in Brook Street, Tavistock, on Saturday after concerns from members of the public.
A spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council said the council was informed of the bee swarm at around 1pm and contacted the Devon Beekeepers' Association.
'From previous calls about the bee swarm, the association was led to believe that an unknown person removed the queen bee sometime between 11am and noon,' said the spokesperson. 'Unfortunately, this individual failed to remove all of the bees.'
West Devon Borough Council has urged residents to contact the Devon Beekeepers' Association on 01822 612340 immediately should they find any signs of a bee swarm, so that the removal can be carried out safely by experienced bee keepers.