A terrifying Asian Hornet nest has been found growing in a derelict house in Jersey and is believed to be one of the largest to be discovered in the British Isles.

The enormous nest measures about 15 inches (40cm) and is the largest discovered on the 'UK's frontline' in Jersey so far this year - and has prompted a fresh warning for the public.

It was hanging from the ceiling of an abandoned home in St Brelades on the Channel Island and was destroyed on 14 August.

Authorities say numbers of the invasive species have been growing with 2023 being on track to be the worst-ever for sightings of the deadly Asian hornets across Britain.

A total of 171 have been found so far in 2023 compared to 100 at the same stage in 2022.

The enormous nest measures about 15 inches (40cm) and is the largest discovered on the 'UK's frontline' in Jersey so far this year

Authorities say numbers of the invasive species have been growing and they are on course for a record number of nests being uncovered this year.

Fears have been growing for many years that the killer bug will use Jersey as a launching pad to dig trenches in mainland Britain

Both Jersey and Guernsey are seen as the front line in the fight against the deadly insects

Alastair Christie, Asian hornet co-ordinator for the Government of Jersey, said of the latest find: 'It's the biggest we've dealt with so far this year.

'It was in a derelict house, no wind, no rain, out of the cold - beautifully sheltered... A bit of a one-off.'

Fears have been growing for many years that the killer bug will use Jersey as a launching pad to dig trenches in mainland Britain - with calls for a 'Dad's Army' to help stop the spread of the species.

WHAT IS THE KILLER ASIAN HORNET INVASION? Asian hornets were accidentally brought to France in 2004, probably in an imported shipment of goods. Since then the dark brown and orange insects have spread rapidly through the country and started to invade neighbouring countries. They have also become established in the Channel Islands and were first reported in the UK in 2016. The hornets, which grow up to an inch long (3 cm) and have an orange face, are an aggressive predator of honey bees and other pollinating insects. The hornets prey on honeybees, hovering like attack helicopters outside their hives and grabbing them on the wing. The bees are dismembered before being carried back to the hornets' nest to be fed to larvae. The charity Plantlife has warned that the hornet 'poses a deadly threat to honeybees and other pollinators and any potential sightings should be immediately reported to the GB Non-native Species Secretariat.' Queens build nests in April. They rapidly start laying eggs until the hive population reaches about 6,000 insects. A report by the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, estimates that the decline of bees worldwide poses a potentially major risk to world food supplies. Britain's bees are thought to have fallen by a third since 2007. The British Beekeepers' Association warns the public not to disturb a hornets' nest 'under any circumstances'. Advertisement

The ongoing battle has long-raged in the Channel Islands 'frontline' in a bid to stop them decimating the native bee population.

But it is now feared they could be establishing a fresh route from the continent and several recent sightings have been confirmed on the coastline around Kent.

Mr Christie said with the latest nest found could have around 1,500 hornets in it - and urged the public to be extra vigilant.

He added: 'With branchage coming up, anyone cutting back hedges or banks need to be aware of the risk of disturbing wasp and Asian hornet nests.'

Mr Christie also urged the public not to disturb nests as the hornets can be 'very aggressive' - with one individual being stung 12 times lat year after disturbing a nest while cutting his hedge.

He added: 'Destruction of the nests is logistically challenging.

'They can be found up trees, on cliff faces, inside roof spaces, or within brambles. They are in such varied locations and efficiency and safety have to be prioritised when removing the nests.'

The species began to spread through Europe in 2004 after arriving in the south of France inside a freight ship.

They were was spotted in the British Isles on the Channel Island of Jersey in late 2016.

But after years of establishing themselves on Jersey and Guernsey the battleground shifted last year to Southern England.

This led to calls for a 'people's army' to help fight off an impending invasion of killer hornets onto mainland Britain.

The hornets are able to kill with one sting among people who have an allergy while they also pose a threat to the environment and native species.

The number of queens found on the Channel Islands is expected to rise as the summer approaches.

Both Jersey and Guernsey are seen as the front line in the fight against the deadly insects.

There are fears that strong easterly winds could 'blow in' more Asian hornets from mainland Europe, leading to another summer-long battle to stop the spread of the insects that could decimate the UK's native bee population.

But experts say there is cause for optimism as the fact the insects are being found quite late in the spring means they are likely travellers coming from France, rather than ones that have been on the island over the winter.

The species began to spread through Europe in 2004 after arriving in the south of France inside a freight ship.

They were first spotted in the British Isles on the Channel Island of Jersey in late 2016.

But after years of establishing themselves on Jersey and Guernsey, the battleground shifted last year to southern England.

Further recent sightings have taken place in Devon, while onne was also reported in Folkestone, Kent for the first time in almost four years as well as one hundreds of miles away in Northumberland.

The British Bee Keepers Association (BBKA) is asking people to stay vigilant after confirming an Asian hornet was spotted in the Folkestone area.