A "compelling" report of an Asian hornet sighting in the UK has been given.

The credible report followed a sighting near Chelmsford in Essex at the end of August.

This is the second confirmed sighting on an Asian horbet in the UK. The first was in Felixstowe, Suffolk on 29 April. A single hornet was captured.

The British Beekeepers Association has confirmed that bee inspectors have set up enhanced surveillance in the Chelmsford area.

They are reminding all local beekeepers are asked to be on alert for any hornets hawking their hives or visiting flowers.

If they have traps, they are advised to set them.

At the end of August the largest nest of Asian hornets ever found in the Channel Islands was discovered. The mass of 1,600 hornets were frozen for 28 hours - but survived.

During the summer, a single colony of Asian hornets, on average, produces 6000 individuals - and they feed on honeybees.

From July onwards, Asian hornet predation on honeybee colonies will begin and increase until the end of November and hornets hover outside a hive entrance, waiting for returning foragers - known as 'hawking'.

The National Bee Unit describes Asian hornets as smaller than our native hornet, with adult workers measuring from 25mm in length and queens measuring 30mm.

Its abdomen is mostly black except for its fourth abdominal segment which is a yellow band located towards the rear.

It has characteristic yellow legs which accounts for why it is often called the yellow legged hornet and its face is orange with two brownish red compound eyes.

Members of the public can report suspected sightings using the ‘Asian hornet Watch’ app for iPhone and Android, or the online reporting form here: http://risc.brc.ac.uk/alert.php?species=asian_hornet