THE chairman of Bradford Beekeeping Association has called for more research to be done on pesticides as a lobby starts to get a ban on them lifted.

David Lamont made the call as the National Farmers Union applied to the Government and EU to use the neonicotinoids for this coming summer and autumn to protect its oil seed rape crops.

Use of three of those neonicotinoids were restricted by the EU after concerns about their effects on bees but permission can still be given in exceptional circumstances.

The neonicotinoid pesticides are believed to affect the bees' nervous systems which means they can not forage enough to survive.

Conservationists and bee supporters say lifting the ban would spell disaster for the bee population and say two applications have already been made to get the ban lifted.

People power website 38 Degrees has got a campaign running to lobby environment minister Liz Truss MP and other MPs not to give farmers permission.

Last year Ms Truss did approve the emergency use of neonicotinoids in certain fields.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said there was no vote on the ban coming up but added: "We have fully applied the restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids introduced by the EU, and we make decisions on pesticides based on the science only once the regulators are satisfied they meet safety standards for people and the environment.

“Applications are considered by the Health and Safety Executive and by the independent UK Expert Committee on Pesticides before a decision is taken by Ministers.”

So far this year 251,902 people have added their names to the on-line petition to try to stop it happening again, including Geoff Bennett, of Glusburn, near Skipton, a retired Yorkshire Dales National Park worker.

Mr Bennett, who has also lobbied his MP Julian Smith, said: "We are getting less and less bees so we have to protect them. I've had a letter back from my MP saying the Government is looking at the issue and will take the correct decision at the time."

However, Mr Lamont said his personal view over the restricted neonicotinoids was that more money should be spent researching them and their effects.

"I'm not sure an out-and-out ban is the way to go. Money could be better spent on doing more research. If they don't use those neonicotinoids they will spray other things, revert to old ways, using chemicals that could be worse.

"I can see both plights - the bees and the need to protect crops. People have got to eat and we have to feed people but we don't want to kill off our wildlife at the same time."