Opinions are divided on pesticides ban in bid to save bees

But the EU-wide ban on the outdoor use of neonicotinoids has been criticised by the National Farmers' Union, saying it was not justified by evidence.

It follows an assessment by the European Food Safety Authority in February, which confirmed the dangers they posed to bees.

Use of the controversial pesticides were already restricted on crops such as oil seed rape, because of concerns they are harming the bees' ability to forage and form colonies.

EU member states have now agreed European Commission proposals to ban all outdoor use of the substances, meaning they can only be used in greenhouses.

Pete Bound, a trustee of Shropshire Beekeepers' Association, said the ban was not before time.

"It couldn't have come early enough, and most beekeepers are of the same mind," he said.

"A few are a little bit worried that farmers may resort back to the really nasty pesticides that were used before neonicotinoids, but it's up to the authorities to ban anything that is harmful, not just to bees, but to all pollinating insects."

Last year Environment Secretary Michael Gove had said the UK would back a ban on the neonicotinoids, saying new evidence indicated the risk to bees and other insects from the chemicals was "greater than previously understood".

But the National Farmers' Union described the move as regrettable.

NFU deputy president Guy Smith said the problems that caused farmers to use neonicotinoids in the first place had not gone away.

“Without neonicotinoids many crops grown in the UK will become less viable," he said.

"A ban could simply mean we import more crops from parts of the world where there is no political desire to ban these key insecticides.

"We will be looking to both the UK Government and the Commission to work with the industry to mitigate the effect of a ban on both food production and the environment.

"There is a real risk that these restrictions will do nothing measurable to improve bee health, while compromising the effectiveness of crop protection."

Mr Smith said farmers were acutely aware of the role of bees in food production.

"Farmers rely on bees to pollinate crops and have planted around 10,000 football pitches worth of flower habitat across the country to support a healthy bee population and give them a good home – all because they recognise the key role they play in producing safe, affordable food," he said.

Emi Murphy, bee campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said the ban was a victory for common sense and science.

But she agreed there was now a need for the Government to support farmers so they could mitigate the damage caused by the ban.

"It's great news that Michael Gove listened to the experts and backed the ban - he must now give farmers the support they need to grow food without bee-harming pesticides," she said.