Children at a school near Oxford are creating a buzz in the insect world after discovering one of the rarest bees in the country.

Just 13 tree bumblebees have been found in the UK. But one flew into the hands of youngsters at Wheatley Park School, in Holton.

It is the furthest north the species has ever been found in the UK.

The bee was uncovered as part of a two-day activity at the school.

Members of the school's eco group had been working on Wednesday with experts from Shotover Wildlife replanting trees on site and working on the wildlife ponds. Volunteer Bonnie Collins was collecting a sample of insects with the youngsters to examine under the microscope when they made the find.

Jack Smith, 14, from Wheatley, said: "We were just sat down with our lunch and then Bonnie Collins (from Shotover Wildlife) came over and said she had caught a bee.

"We looked at it and we got one of the cards out to try and see what it was and it wasn't on there.

"We had a look in some other books and it turned out it was this rare bee.

"I'm really surprised and happy, and excited that something of national significance was found in a little village just outside Oxford."

As the bee was a male, it was not necessary to release it back into the wild to keep the species going, so experts froze the insect to preserve it.

Shotover Wildlife chairman Ivan Wright said: "We have been waiting for this bumblebee to arrive in Oxfordshire for years.

"This is one of the most exciting things I have ever found and I am over the moon I was here when it was discovered."

Ms Collins said: "The children had the nets, so I was using my hands and a little tube - so I was just lucky."

Callum Horn, 14, of Stadhampton, said: "I didn't think I was interested in insects before this.

"It's really quite surprisingly spectacular that we were there when the first specimen of this bee was found in Oxfordshire."

Some of the children were working in the wildlife area for the second year running.

Wheatley Park School is acquiring a reputation for stumbling upon interesting finds.

Last July, youngsters unexpectedly uncovered a medieval pavement during a mini-excavation.