There was a real buzz around the Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon on Saturday when the Huntingdonshire Beekeepers Association brought along real bees, as part of a special event celebrating the insect.

Roger Wood, a member of the association, said: “Bees were hugely important in Oliver Cromwell’s time - not only because honey was the only readily available sweetener, but also because wax was so important for candles.

“We wanted to show the public how we look after bees today, and draw some parallels with beekeeping in Cromwell’s time.”

The event was attended by hundreds of visitors, who were able to buy jars of local honey and also take part in a bee-themed trail and craft and colouring activities inside the museum.

Kim Hay, a volunteer at the Cromwell Museum, said: “The day was a wonderful success and we would be delighted to do something similar with the association again next year.

“All our visitors loved the live bees, especially the marked queen, and it was a great opportunity for the museum to link with a local group and promote their activities as well as our own.”

The association offer taster sessions at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, where they are based. The museum shop will continue to stock its own special Cromwell Museum honey, produced by bees in Godmanchester.