its not a bee, but a fly of some sort. dont know which one off the top of my head though.

If no-one comes up with an answer try the Natural History Museum NaturePlus site http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/index.jspa

Take a look anyway - an easy way of wasting the odd half hour and be able to call it educational/research. Great if you have kids to occupy.

I've got a very good book which says it's chrysops caecutiens. Normally not far from water.

Thank you everyone who answered. I could spend ages looking through that Nat. Hist. nature site. Worthy, it does look a lot like the fly you mentioned (a Deer fly they say), but my fly didn't have coloured eyes, so still not 100% sure. I'm steering clear in case you are right, as it has a nasty bite.

It looks very like a horse fly. You're right to steer clear - the bite can be very nasty.