A SWARM of dangerous hornets descended on Peebles - and experts are warning to stay clear.

The giant insects have been spotted in gardens and on a building site near Edinburgh Road throughout the week.

But it remains unclear if three-inch long hornets are the deadly Asian species, which have been reported by national newspapers.

Workmen on a building site near Edinburgh Road first noticed the creatures last week and several of the insects returned on later days.

Workman Daniel Whigham said: “We heard them before we saw them - it was like a swarm of wasps heading towards us.

“I saw three of them. They are huge - the length of my finger.

“Nobody knew what they were until we opened the newspaper on Wednesday and read that these giant hornets had arrived in Scotland - and they can kill you.

“These things have a huge sting coming out the back of them - I wouldn’t want to see a child stung by one of them.” The Peeblesshire News also had reports of the creatures being seen near the Eastgate Theatre.

And one local bee expert spotted one flying over her garden, close to the High Street.

Myriam Baete from the Newbattle Beekeepers' Association, who spent a morning clearing a swarm of bees from outside the Tontine Hotel, said: “I saw a hornet last week although my husband was convinced they wouldn’t have come this far north.

“If they are hanging around the building site they will be chewing the wood to build a nest. They can be aggressive around a nest and their sting is very unpleasant.” National newspapers carried a story that it was suspected that Asian hornets had been found on a building site in Fife.

Asian hornets are originally from China, which were introduced to the south of France within a delivery of pottery around a decade ago.

But the species has yet to be found in the UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) doesn’t believe the Peebles swarm will have crossed the Channel.

A spokeswoman said: “It’s very unlikely that the Asian Hornet would be in Scotland.

“We’d had quite a lot of reports from the public of Asian Hornets but not a single case. We’ve not had an Asian Hornet in the UK yet.” It was flying creatures of another kind which caused panic on Peebles High Street.

New bay trees placed outside the Tontine Hotel attracted a swarm of bees.

And local beekeeper Myriam was called in to relocate them. She added: “I managed to get the queen and most of the swarm brushed into a box and took them to my garden where there is a hive.