A Keighley-born man has written a book about the plight of the honeybee.

Ken Pickles, 70, who is originally from Riddlesden, wrote “Buckets of Honey from Boxes of Bees” in a bid to improve the lot of the insects.

He said he had been involved with bee-keeping since he was a boy, as both his father and grandfather enjoyed the pursuit.

The book was officially released last month at the National Honey Show, in Weybridge, Surrey.

Mr Pickles said: “The writing of this book was prompted by the current interest in bee-keeping.

“Its fundamental aim is to try to improve the lot of the honey bees by bee-keepers of the present day and those who aspire to become the next generation.

“It will also help non-bee-keepers to appreciate this marvellous insect, its lifestyle and immense benefit to mankind.”

The book features the fashionable changeover from “straw-skep” hives in Victorian times to today’s wooden hives.

It also explains how British bees have been hard hit by epidemics and the arrival 20 years ago of the parasitic Varroa mite, which is capable of decimating hives.

Mr Pickles said he has had some success in using ramsons — also known as wild garlic — to ward off the bug.

He said over the years he had been stung “thousands” of times but had never built up immunity to the pain. “I was stung on my finger only yesterday, and it still hurts,” he said. He was formerly a gamekeeper and also served in the Gordon Highlanders army infantry regiment, before joining the West Riding Constabulary.

He served as the village police constable at Addingham for nearly 20 years and now lives there.

The book is available online from Amazon, or at Northern Bee Books, at Hebden Bridge, on 01422 882751 and should also now be available from local shops.