BEEKEEPERS at the Envir-onment Centre in Wycombe are buzzing with excitement after a surprise discovery and a generous donation.

Staff at the centre recently found their beehive is home to not one, not two, but three queen bees. A beehive normally has only one queen bee, who acts as mother to the bee colony.

The discovery of the bees was not the only highlight for the staff this week as the town's Muslim community helped raise £7,000 for the centre after a fundraising event on Sunday.

Frances Alexander, one of the Environment Centre trustees, said: "To have two queen bees is strange, but to have three is very rare. I have never heard of three queen bees in a hive before."

The original queen bee was marked with a dot of Tippex to make it visible to visitors, but then members of staff noticed two other queen bees side by side in the hive.

Mrs Alexander hopes the find will attract swarms of visitors.

She added: "It is a real challenge for people to come along and try to spot all three."

The Environment Centre on Holywell Mead has benefited from being chosen by Wycombe mayor Liaquat Ali as his chosen charity for the mayor's appeal.

On Sunday afternoon, members of the Muslim community in High Wycombe gathered at the centre on The Rye for the mayor's charity appeal.

Mohammed Rafiq, from the mayor's fundraising committee, said the environment was of great importance in the Islam faith, and urged everybody to do their bit to help preserve it.

Mayor Ali said: "I'm very pleased that all the community supported me in this appeal and all have contributed. It is very encouraging."

The day raised £7,000 for the Environment Centre, which is currently getting ready for their next exhibition, which opens on Saturday.

The new presentation, entitled Our Environment, Our Future, Our Wildlife will display information on a wide range of animals and their habitats.

The exhibition lasts until Sunday, September 4.