A disease that can wipe out bee colonies has been discovered in a fourth Scottish apiary.

Hives afflicted with American foulbrood in Scaniport near Inverness have been destroyed as there is no treatment for the condition, which poses no risk to humans.

The disease was found in hives at two apiaries in Aberdeenshire and another in Perth and Kinross earlier this year.

It kills young bee larvae before they are able to develop and can devastate local bee populations.

Beekeepers have been banned from taking equipment and bees into or out of the affected area.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "An outbreak of American foulbrood (AFB), a disease affecting colonies of honeybees, has been found in an apiary near Inverness.

"The disease was confirmed on August 19 following laboratory diagnosis by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture.

"The AFB-infected hive has been destroyed as there is no permitted treatment for the disease in the UK.

"There are no risks to public health from AFB and no implications for the quality and safety of honey."