The bees took up temporary residence on the rear of a group of shopping trolleys in a car park adjoining the Bridge Plaza late on Monday morning.

Some shoppers gazed and pointed, some took photos and others took one look and high-tailed it out of there. It seemed the bees couldn’t decide whether they were trying to make a map of New South Wales or a map of South Australia. There were no reports of people being stung.

Staff at Ned Kelly Bargains, the rear of which adjoins the car park, called Fire and Rescue Batemans Bay, which promptly sent a crew to help.

The fire officers gave advice and warnings to people nearby and taped off the area surrounding the bees.

“The bees were just looking for a place to call in and rest for a few hours,” Fire and Rescue Batemans Bay station officer Philip Eberle said.

“It is always possible that we will be called to this type of thing but it hasn’t happened for a while.”

The Ned Kelly Bargains staff, who had also tried unsuccessfully to contact a beekeeper, were relieved when the bees departed of their own accord between 3pm and 3.30pm the same day.

“In the end they literally got up and left home,” sales assistant Sharon Gatenby said.

The bees were next seen hanging around the chairs out the front of the store, but departed for good soon after.

“Sales were a little quieter while they were around,” Ms Gatenby said.