Helicopter deployed after hornets attack race

Runners taking part in an orienteering race in the central Czech Republic faced an unexpected obstacle today when they were attacked by a swarm of hornets, leaving four people in hospital.

Emergency services deployed eight ambulances and one helicopter to treat a total of 30 injured participants at the event in Libin, a village about 90 kilometres east of Prague.

"A swarm of angry hornets turned a Czech Cup orienteering relay race into a drama shortly after its start," emergency service spokesman Ivo Novak said in a statement.

"One 44-year-old female runner had an allergic reaction after being stung several dozen times. She probably ran too close to a nest," he said.

Two women and two men were taken to hospital.

Orienteering is a race where people use navigational skills to run from checkpoint to checkpoint.