AIREDALE Beekeepers Association is backing national efforts to close a loophole in import regulations which campaigners fear could be devastating for bee colonies.

And it is urging members of the public to also show their support, by signing an online petition – at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/577603.

If it gains 100,000 signatures, the issue will be debated in parliament.

Campaigners say that a rigorous border inspection regime prior to Brexit prevented a devastating pest known as the small hive beetle arriving in the UK in packages of bees from southern Italy, where it is endemic.

But whilst the packages cannot currently be imported into Great Britain, they are still allowed to be brought into Northern Ireland – from where they can be transferred to the UK mainland without restriction.

Chris Hardy, chair of Airedale Beekeepers Association, said: “Unless the loophole is closed, unscrupulous importers will be able to move bees into the UK without control. There is no effective treatment for small hive beetle – in the US at least 20,000 colonies were destroyed within two years of its discovery and the potential impact on British beekeeping could be devastating.”

She added: “I would ask anyone who is concerned to please sign the petition and encourage the Government to take action on this urgent issue.”