Beekeepers across the county have lost up to a third of bees in their colonies because of cool and wet conditions, stopping them flying, pollinating vegetation and producing honey.

David White, vice chairman of the Northamptonshire Beekeepers' Association, said: "Bees need a certain temperature in which to fly and if they don't get that temperature around March, the tendency is that, as the colony starts to expand, it eats more of their rations.

"Last year we only had fine weather for a period of six weeks in the middle of March and April.

"After that, unfortunately, the weather went into decline. What we're experiencing is a loss of up to 30 per cent of hives with bees, and everybody who loses a third of their stock is left on the back foot when it starts a new season.

"I would imagine that, come the turn of the year, British honey could be rather scarce. Our main concern is to keep the colonies strong and to check to see if they have any pests or disease.

"Mother Nature decides whether it's going to be a good season or not and we're always optimistic. We're overdue for a good year."

David Lantsbery, at New Creation Farm in Nether Heyford, which has cut back from 70 hives to 40, said the season had been disappointing, although could not pinpoint why.

Mr Lantsbery said: "It's a little bit difficult to know to what extent the weather is to blame or whether there is some more fundamental problem with the bees.

"I haven't had the kind of yield of honey which I would expect and it's not anything like we were getting 20 years ago."