York Racecourse was crawling with bug fans on Saturday when it hosted an insect extravaganza.

Among the highlights of the 2007 Northern Entomology Exhibition was an innovative homing-bee race.

Visitors took home a bumble bee and released it, with the first one back to the hive declared the winner.

Bee expert Gordon Port revealed the "contestants" were identified by tiny numbers stuck to their backs.

Show organiser Nick Holford said: "We want to really capture the public's imagination and give them a fascinating insight into these wonderful beasts which make up for more than 60 per cent of the world's species.

"The idea is to attract anyone with an interest in insects, whether they are families on a day out or people who regard themselves as hardened insect spotters."