Households across Britain have been asked to help protect bees by giving them a sugary energy drink.

According to the RSPB, bees are hard at work pollinating at this time of year and often end up exhausted and in need of a rest.

The organisation has therefore suggested that people help bees with their vital work by creating a sweet drink from sugar and water.

This, it stated, could be left among the bees' favourite flowers in people's gardens and allow them to receive a much-needed energy boost.

Val Osborne, head of wildlife enquiries at the RSPB, said bees deserve our help, because they are an important part of the planet's ecological make-up.

"Much like us, a sugary drink could boost their energy levels and a simple sugar and water combination will be a welcome treat," she commented.

However, Ms Osborne said that only a small amount of the drink should be left out in a container such as an egg cup, as birds will consume it otherwise.

This comes shortly after the Public Accounts Committee warned that the government is not doing enough to curb the decline in the UK's bee population.

Edward Leigh, chairman of the group of MPs, said this state of affairs is "difficult to understand".