THE bee equivalent of foot and mouth disease has been found in Over Wallop.

In one of the 20 parish council-owned allotments off King Lane, a colony of bees kept in hives were found to have European foul brood disease.

The bees had been neglected after their bee-keeper had died. European foul brood disease is a notifiable disease, like foot and mouth. If bee keepers suspect they have it they should contact a bee inspector.

David Purchase, bee inspector for Andover, stressed the bee disease cannot spread to other animals or to humans.

"It's the second most serious bee disease. American Foul Brood is the worst. Both are bacterial diseases," he explained.

Mr Purchase has now dealt with the Over Wallop outbreak.

The bees have been put in a clean hive and there was no need to kill them.

European foul brood poses a serious threat to other colonies in the area.

Bees can fly up to three miles and enter empty hives in search of food. So the outbreak had the potential to affect bees in villages such as Grateley and Broughton.

James Morton, the national bee inspector for the UK said Hampshire has a significant number of cases: "It's not something bee-keepers should panic about but they should be aware that it's in Hampshire.

"They should look for signs of disease in their bees and if at all worried they should call their bee inspector and we will be very glad to give them all the help and advice they need."

The outbreak has prompted the parish council to tell allotment holders if they do not use their allotments for one year, they will forfeit their right to have an allotment again.

To contact the regional bee inspector call 01308 482161.