KEIGHLEY Ahmadiyya Muslim Association members got a real buzz from their latest meeting.

Keith Hebden, from Airedale Beekeeping Association, gave a talk about the pursuit.

And his presentation was followed by a question and answer session.

"The aim was to encourage senior members to take up this rewarding pastime," said association spokesman, Mujeeb Rahman.

"The honey bee is mentioned in the Holy Quran and in fact a chapter is named after it.

"Honey bees are on the decline in Europe and America, but numbers are on the increase in other parts of the world.

"Various factors have been assigned to the drop in numbers, one of the main ones being the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and campaigners have sought to ban them.

"The Ahmadiyya Muslim community believes that although the protection of bees is essential, the protection of crops for human consumption must be paramount, while at the same time continuing research into all the causes of decline in honey bee population and doing our best to rectify the problem."