A native American bee whisperer has rescued a disabled man and his family after a swarm of 150 bees settled in their garden.

Martyn Ellacot, who has a spinal injury, called the council, pest control and even the police - but no-one would touch them because they are legally protected.

The family were confined to their home for weeks until James Hamill, head beekeeper at The Hive honey shop in Battersea, heard of their plight.

The Californian learnt how to befriend bees when he was just five, and tames them using a secret whispering technique passed down from his grandfather.

He said: “Bee whispering is a way of calming the bees down prior to actually removing them.

“Sometimes they can get stressed because you are effectively opening their home, but they have been really well-behaved today.

“I try to encourage people who need to remove nests to call upon a bee-keeper or someone like me to rescue them, rather than get pest control to kill them.”

Mr Hamill, 49, donned his bee suit before putting his face next to their nest in the ground and whispering a secret language.

With a blanket over his head, he coaxed them out with his hands and into a wooden box.

The swarm of tawny bees, a species of bumble bee, will now start a new life at Bee Heaven, a scenic farm in Tadworth, Surrey.

Mr Ellacot, 53, said: “The bees are protected, because if they’re not around there would be no pollination.

“If I paid someone to kill them, I’d be breaking the law. We couldn’t mow the lawn and my daughter, who’s only nine, couldn’t play out there.

“I didn’t know what to do, so I’m very grateful.”

Bumble bees are treasured as the number of species commonly found around the UK declined in recent years from 22 to only 10.

Mr Hamill charges a small fee for bee-removal to keep the farm afloat, but kindly waved the charge for Mr Ellacot and his wife Gill.

To contact him, visit The Hive in Northcote Road or visit its website at www.thehivehoneyshop.co.uk.