BEEKEEPER Gail Johnson has reached the pinnacle of a hobby that has become her passion.

The retired banker from Bridgetown has just achieved master beekeeper status - the industry's top qualification.

Gail is the first member of the Exmoor Beekeepers Association to receive the award, which is given after completion of all eight British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) modules.

Her studies included microscopy, along with general and senior husbandry before a final exam at the BBKA's headquarters in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.

Gail is one of only around 100 master beekeepers in England and Wales.

Her enthusiasm for beekeeping only began eight years ago when she and her husband Phil bought the weekend cottage that is now their full-time home.

Phil is also an enthusiast, although he has had to be slightly more careful after suffering anaphylaxis following multiple bee stings three years ago.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Gail is now in training to become a senior honey judge and has already completed the preparatory course for the highest award the National Diploma in Beekeeping.

Prospective judges have to have secured 30 awards in first, second or third places at county level to achieve the first part of the diploma.

At this year's Bath and West Show, Gail won closed and open sections for medium honey and set honey, scooping three major trophies with five first places in a contest with beekeepers from Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Avon and Wiltshire.

Meanwhile, at the Taunton and Somerset County Honey Show, Gail won another five first prizes, winning both sections for medium honey, set honey, composite and wax candle.

She also took home a further five trophies.

And in the honey section at the recent Minehead Flower Show, Gail won several sections and the main award overall.

Although there were only a handful of entrants, 81-year-old Exmoor Beekeepers Association chairman Peter Batchelor and the group's apiary manager Dave Colley shared the runner-up trophy.