PANIC-STRICKEN children had to flee for safety when a swarm of bees descended on them as they played behind a community centre.

The children from Micklefield Road, High Wycombe, were playing behind Micklefield Community Centre on Sunday afternoon when they were distracted by a droning humming noise coming from above their heads.

One child said: "They were everywhere. The whole sky was covered with bees. Next thing they were around my head and we all ran."

The children ran across the field and looked on as the bees swarmed through back-gardens along Micklefield Road, behind the centre.

Paul Szefer, 44, a bed-maker from Micklefield Road called Wycombe District Council when he noticed the swarm covering a gazebo in his back garden.

"It was frightening as I'd never seen so many bees," he said. "They covered my white gazebo but thousands more were swarming in other gardens and garages."

A council spokesman said: "If bees are airborne and posing a threat to the public, we would advise people to stay away."