Vandals have killed thousands of bees after toppling beehives and trashing support stands.

The damage is believed to have happened overnight on Friday at Bear’s Lane in the village of Hothfield near Ashford.

A villager reported finding thousands of dead bees on Saturday morning and has reported the incident to the Kent Bee-keepers Association.

He said: “I was walking past with the dog when I saw the damage. I see the beekeeper taking the bees around the apple orchards in spring and taking honey off them.

“There are two hives, and one was untouched, but the other had been knocked over. The whole place was trashed.”

Kent Bee-keepers Association has been contacted for comment.