Mystery hornet found in a shed at Berry Brow.
Mystery hornet found in a shed at Berry Brow.

A deadly invader has reached Huddersfield.

But the huge Asian hornet came off second best in a fight with a Berry Brow pensioner.

The invading insect – thought to be an Asian giant hornet – began dive bombing 74-year-old Peter Wilkinson while he was repairing the roof of his shed.

Asian giant hornets, which sport a 6mm sting and can reach a staggering three inches long, are thought to have landed in the UK this summer due to warmer than average temperatures.

The hornets caused the deaths of six people in France through anaphylactic shock.

But the vicious insect was no match for Mr Wilkinson who dispatched it with a folded piece of roof insulation.

Mr Wilkinson, of Berry Brow, said: “It was flying around my head so I had to knock it down.

“It took some doing as well. I had to hit it quite a few times.

“It was a bit scary having one of those flying around.

“It was trying to get me and I was ducking and diving – so I belted it one.

“I could hear it without my hearing aid and it looked massive flying about .I’ve never seen one so big.”

The insects have swarmed across France since their arrival in a shipment of Chinese pottery in 2004.

A close-up of an Asian giant hornet
A close-up of an Asian giant hornet

Last year the Chinese government ordered the mass extermination of the killer hornets that have been terrorising the country.

The hornets are an annual problem but the wave of the insects has worsened this year with the warmer than average temperatures.

Asian Giant Hornet Facts

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa Mandarinia) is the world’s largest hornet which can grow up to 7.5cm (3in) long.

The insect, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia, has a wing span of about 7.5cm and a 6mm stinger which injects a large amount of potent venom.

Hornets are predatory insects hunting bees and smaller hornets.

While Japanese honey bees have learnt to smother, overheat and kill Asian giant hornets, native UK species have no defence.