HOME really is a hive of activity for doctor Alec Anson and his wife Alison.

For the busy bees are the proud makers of Chorlton Garden Honey, with a little help from a 250,000 strong army that live at the bottom of their garden.

And now their honey will be flying off the shelves to boost Manchester's New Children's Hospital Appeal. Alec, a consultant eye surgeon, said: "Four years ago we saw a beekeeping course with Cheshire Beekeepers' Association, so we went along to evening classes to learn how to look after a hive."

Now the couple have seven hives.

But Alec and Alison, who have a 12-year-old daughter, Milly, won't be stung by big shops snapping up their honey - it's only on offer at the Barbakan deli, on Manchester Road, Chorlton.

The jars are flying off the shelves.

Now the couple will also be selling it at Manchester Eye Hospital, where they both work.

Sweet return

And so far, the bees have brought them a sweet return.

Alec said: "In a good year each hive will produce between 50 and 100lbs of honey."

Amazingly, in spite of having so many bees, Alec and his family rarely get stung.

He said: "They are very placid, unless the hive is under threat. When we smoke the hive we wear all the proper protective gear."

The doctor is an advocate of the honey's medical properties too, as he says it can help combat hayfever, colds and digestive problems.

He said: "It's very healthy, we use it as a substitute for refined sugar. Every morning I have honey on toast and we also have it in drinks.

"Harvesting it is a messy job, but we always manage to get friends over to help us fill jars and taste-test it. It's so much purer than shop-bought honey."

The busy bee season for the Ansons runs from April until October.

He added: "I never get fed up of it, I have at least a spoonful a day because the taste is lovely. Our honey is the best I've had!"