DARLINGTON residents are being encouraged to be more ‘bee friendly’ as part of a national Bee Action campaign.

MP Jenny Chapman was among 50 people who joined a Darlington bee walk at the weekend and a local stakeholder group has now been set up in the town to try and preserve the insects’ habitat.

Members include the Darlington Beekeepers Association, The Naturalist Field Club and local allotment members and nature reserve trusts who have agreed to work on a Darlington Bee Action Plan.

This will look at using more bee-friendly farming practices, better hedgerow management and planting more wild flowers in the borough.

Ms Chapman said: "Bees and other pollinating Insects are vital to our food supply, our economy and our quality of life.

"Sadly numbers have been falling dramatically and action is needed to address this decline."