A bee-obsessed shopkeeper has attempted to break the world record for the world's largest honey stirrer.

James Hamill, head beekeeper and owner of The Hive Honey Shop, in Northcote Road, Battersea, hosted an official measuring of the 7ft dipper on October 9.

The stirrer, which is traditionally little more than a few inches long, was weighed and measured by a surveyor in front of official witnesses for the Guinness Book of World Records attempt.

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It took four weeks to create and was crafted by London woodturner Peter Noy, who also makes the ordinary sized stirrers for the shop.

Mr Hamill aspired to run a bee-themed museum for 30 years, with bee-keeping running in his family since the 1920s.

The Hive Honey Shop is filled with his family heirlooms alongside other bee related trinkets he has collected, including 200 beehives.

Mr Hamill, who was recently named London Beekeeper of the Year 2013, said: "I saw a honey stirrer with a bee next to it, I thought that must look massive.

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"I thought how new to create a massive one like a work of art, the same perspective as a human to the bee.

"It is just crazy to look at. Whether or not there is someone in this world as obsessed with bees we will have to wait and see."

The stirrer is now on display in the shop which is one of the guidelines of the Guinness Book of World Records.

Judges will analyse the paperwork with a final decision expected in about six weeks time.


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