A 79-year-old Sutton beekeeper said he may have move his prized bees after their hives were attacked by vandals.

Melvin Lavin has maintained hives throughout Sutton for a decade but a wooded area in Carlshalton has been the constant target of vandals.

The latest attack occurred at his allotment on Westmeade Road last week when a “big iron bar” was thrown at the hives.

He said: “One of my roofs was damaged but it was reparable. But mainly what they do is push the hives over.

“The disturbance to the bees is the main damage, when they push them over they are open to the elements, and in the cold and wet weather that can kill them.”

Mr Lavin added: “The bees get really really angry and it makes them really difficult to handle. When normally they’re quite placid and just buzz round you, now when you go in there they are really quite aggressive.”

According to Mr Lavin, local kids are responsible for the damage and he is now reluctantly considering moving the hives to a different area.

He said: “Kids are getting through from the Carlshalton park and people can’t see them once they are in the woods, so it’s pretty secluded there.

He continued: “I’m seriously thinking if It keeps getting damage down there I will move my bees to a different area. It’s a shame because it’s a really good catchment area. We need bees and it’s an environmental thing as well.”

Mr Lavin estimates each hive is worth around £400 and were important for the local ecosystem.

He said: “They are important because possibly about 50 per cent of our food has got to be pollinated. Everything we need vegetable wise has to be pollinated.

“Even though there’s other pollinated insects that do a job nothing is quite as efficient as honey bees. Without pollination, you don’t get your food.”

Mr Lavin expressed his desire for local schools in the area to discuss the vandalism with the students as he believes it may force those responsible to think twice about repeating the crime.

He also issued a warning to those who are vandalising his beehives.

He said: “It’s a criminal offence. If you have a criminal record it stays with you for life, there’s lots of things you can’t do.”