Wolfgang Buttress creating a buzz with Hive creation at Milan Expo

A giant aluminium beehive designed by a Nottingham artist has been seen by about a million people at the Universal Expo in Milan.

Wolfgang Buttress is representing the UK with his Hive artwork at the world's fair, which he has linked to a real beehive in Nottinghamshire.

The UK pavillion has had about 20,000 visitors a day since May, doubling UK Trade & Investment's predictions.

He said his work was a "symphony" between bees and humans.

The structure is part of the UK Pavillion in Milan

The Hive, which emerged from the festival's theme of sustainability, is made of 170,000 parts and fitted with accelerometers that record vibrations. They are then digitally sent to Milan so visitors can hear the sounds of real bees.

It is part of research being conducted at Nottingham Trent University looking at the way the insects communicate with each other.

Mr Buttress said bee activity "triggers" LED lights in the structure.

He said: "It's a personal dialogue between you and the bee, a symphony between bee and man."

Visitors walk through a natural wildflower meadow

Before reaching the Hive, visitors walk through a fruit orchard and then a natural wildflower meadow.

Steve Jewitt-Fleet, deputy director of the UK Pavilion, said: "We are showcasing the UK's creativity, innovation and technology to a global audience.

"We're approaching our millionth visitor and the opportunity to engage with the public has been phenomenal."

Expo Milan 2015 can be visited until October.

People can hear the sound of bees from a hive in Nottinghamshire