Bees are facing a host of threats across the world, from fewer flowers for food to pesticides and air pollution, a new report from the UN has warned.

The study prompted calls for the UK government to boost wildflower habitat in the countryside and for local councils to increase wildflowers and flowering trees in towns and cities to help the insects.

The report published by the UN Environment Programme said bees were crucial to food supplies, with more than 70 of the 100 crop species that make up most of our world’s diet pollinated by them.

But changes to the countryside have triggered a decline in wild bees and other pollinating insects.