A giant Asian hornet has been discovered living in Mersham - threatening to wipe out the area's honey bee population.

Tomar Owl Sanctuary owner Tom Tyrell says the two-inch-long creatures can wipe out a hive of 40,000 bees within half an hour by biting the bees' heads off, stripping their wings and then feeding what is left to their young.

Mr Tyrell, who has three bee hives in his garden, said: "Last year we had a load of them here but this year's been even worse. I think they must be coming across from the continent but they're massive when you compare them to a normal wasp."

The Latin named Vespa Mandarinia is usually found in the tropical climates of Eastern Asia and gives off pheromones to attract bees out of their hives before attacking them. When enough are dead they then raid the hive to eat the honey bee larvae.

Mr Tyrell added: "They don't bother stinging other bees or wasps they just bite their heads off and eat them. That's why their heads look like a locust and the speed they can wipe out a hive is unbelievable."

It is believed the super-sized insect first entered France in 2005 in pottery from China. Within a few years beekeepers had about 30 per cent of their bees remaining after the giant hornet wiped them out.