Bristol writer uses hour on plinth to highlight bee plight

A writer from Cotham was the centre of attention in Trafalgar Square when she dressed as a bee on the Fourth Plinth.

Shirley Brown braved the warm weekend weather to take part in the One & Other project in London on Saturday.

Ms Brown used her hour on the plinth to highlight the plight of bees, which she says are dying off at an unprecedented rate.

Complete with six arms, antennae and a pair of wings, Shirley unfurled a number banners to make her point.

Among them were "ban neonicotinoids", referring to a form of pesticide that can be particularly harmful to bees and is already banned in a number of European Countries.

Ms Brown also used balloons and music to make her time on the plinth entertaining as well as informative.

She said: "Bee day went very well for me, despite the sweltering heat and a costume made of fur fabric.

"I had a lot of fun up on the plinth and the team who helped me put the show together felt that we had made our point effectively."

Conceived by artist Antony Gormley, the aim of the One&Other project is to create a living monument that captures modern Britain.

Every hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break, a different person will make the plinth their own.