A five-star Bug Hotel is back in business after it was ‘washed away’ by this year’s storms.

Insects can once again check in to the luxury accommodation at Abbotsbury Swannery, which provides refuge for up to 2,000 species of insect on the site.

Swannery Supervisor Charlie Wheeler said: “Unfortunately, this fully functioning bug haven was knocked down and washed away in the storms in February, when the Swannery was totally submerged.”

“As the wood did not drift too far, it was possible to gather what remnants of the old bug hotel we could find and start again.”

Mr Wheeler also said, the hotel is now ‘bigger and better’ then before, with extra en-suite facilities to help tempt even more creatures to take up residence.

“Hopefully it will be a little more permanent than the last – and I hope some of the original residents have hung on too.”

The original bug hotel was built using the wood from a large grey poplar, which fell in the storms of July last year.

Now the once high-rise log lodging of decaying wood and vegetation has been rebuilt with hollow bamboo to help attract solitary bees and shady cavities to tempt frogs.

“I am positive that it will have plenty of new and old residents crawling in soon,” said Mr Wheeler.

Those who may be thinking about heading down to the Swannery this bank holiday weekend, Saturday May 3, could be in for a real treat as the first cygnets of the year are set to hatch within days.

Abbotsbury Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks, who farmed swans for lavish banquets and conserves the only managed colony of nesting mute swans in the world.