(Image: Supplied)
A North East hotel has installed beehives on its roof as part of plans to boost biodiversity and serve its own honey to guests.
The Hilton Garden Inn in Sunderland has added five hives to its rooftop, housing around 30,000 bees each, as part of its on-going programme of new initiatives.
Gareth Freeman, general manager at the Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland, said: "We are very excited about being able to offer our own honey.
"We’ve already managed to have a small taste and it’s delicious – really light and floral."
The hives are not only intended to create a unique guest experience but also to support the environment and promote biodiversity.
Bees play a crucial role in pollination, which supports both crop growth and natural ecosystems.
The hotel’s bees will help pollinate nearby flowers across the city.
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Mr Freeman said: "Cutting down on food miles and using local and seasonal food wherever possible are all important to us.
"And what could be more local than offering honey that’s been produced right here at the hotel?"
The rooftop hives are part of a wider set of improvements at the hotel, which follows on from a major refurbishment of the public areas and will also see a refresh of the rooms.