EXPERTS have been called in after a rare bee attacked brickwork at one of the oldest buildings in Taunton.

The path under the 12th Century building at Castle Bow, part of the Castle Hotel, has been cordoned off after pieces of mortar became loose.

The brickwork has been attacked by a species of bee called the Mortar Bee which burrowed through the mortar joints in the wall.

The only effective way of preventing extensive damage is to repoint the soft and perished brickwork with hard mortar.