Hundreds of primary school children were sent home early after a swarm of bees surrounded the school.

Parents of pupils at Powers Hall Academy, in Spa Road, Witham, were alerted by text that the school was closing at about 2pm on Friday after a swarm of bees settled in fruit trees between the junior and infant schools.

On one of the hottest days of the year so far, teachers were instructed to keep all windows and doors closed so the bees would not fly into the school.

However, headteacher Jane Bass made the decision to close the school as soon as possible because both teachers and students were suffering due to overheating.

She said: “It was absolutely baking."

See the Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.