Could a spoon of local honey a day cure hayfever?

A quarter of Londoners suffer the irritation of hayfever during summer months. Streaming eyes, tickly throats and a runny nose are just a few of the symptoms we spend millions each year trying to control.

But rather than antihistamines could a spoon of local honey a day cure hayfever?

James Hamill is a fourth generation bee keeper. He swears eating English honey rich in local pollen can acclimatise the body and prevent it reacting to airbourne pollen spores.

James collects pollen samples from around the south east of England and enriches natural untreated honey.

He says the honey doesn't need to come from your exact town (as much of the UK's plants are similar) but it does need to have not be overly refined.

And judging by the stream of repeat customers coming into his shop in Clapham many people seem to agree it works. Cheryl Edwards was buying two pots, costing £14.95 each for her and her son.

Sounds convincing but what do medical experts say? I spoke to Allergist Dr Adam Fox from St Thomas's hospital to find out.

He says that's because tests show to get the levels of pollen required to desensitise patients would require far higher doses than are in honey.

There is a new drug on the market called Grazax which uses extremely high doses of pollen to do just that but the levels are far higher than found in honey.

Whether it's a placebo effect or a genuine cure - there are plenty who'll try anything to help them breathe easily this summer.