Workmen spot HUGE three-inch killer hornet on site in Scotland

A group of workmen claim to have seen a giant Asian hornet on their building site in Fife, Scotland.

It was rumoured a few months ago that the huge hornets, with a 6mm sting, were on their way to the UK - and this could be proof.

The hornets have swarmed across France, killing six people, since their arrival in a shipment of Chinese pottery in 2004.

Andrew Allan, 30, from East Kilbride, is thought to be the first person to spot one in Scotland. He told the Daily Record: "We were just working away, doing some stone repairs, when we saw this massive thing buzzing about. I could not believe my eyes.

"My mate didn't want to take any chances so he hit it with a hammer."

According to the Mirror, he added: "It was about two to three inches long and had a massive sting about the length of a needle."

Last September, more than 28 people were stung to death by giant hornets in central China.

Hundreds of people were stung by swarms of the flying insects in Shaanxi province: more than 230 people were stung in the city of Ankang alone, where there were 18 deaths.

The Asian giant hornet's sting is highly toxic and can lead to anaphylactic shock and renal failure.

Last September, it was reported that their arrival in Britain was predicted by Franck Muller of the Museum of National History in Paris back in February 2011, when he told the Daily Telegraph they would cross into Britain within "three to four years".

In May 2014, the Government warned Britons about a swarm of killer hornets from China that can be dangerous and are a threat to the UK's fragile honey bee population.

The deadly bees can eat up to 50 honey bees a day and are capable of wiping out their bee hives.

Now, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is drafting plans to combat the threat of the Asian hornet, International Business Times reports.

The deadly hornets are just one of hundreds of alien species invading the UK. In April, we reported on the threats non-native species pose to our native plants and wildlife.

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