I was over at my neighbours around 1pm when a massive insect landed on
some wood he has for cutting up for his stove.
I have never seen anything like it before, neither had he and he is in his
80's nor had his nephew so that between us that was around 200 years of
country living and observing creatures.
It was Wasp like with an orange ish rear wilt along "tail" Oviposter I
presume.
It was the best part of 2 inches long.
Checking on-line the nearest I can find is a giant wood wasp, though the
pictures are more yellow than our beasty.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2010/07/...-wasp-from-uk/

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...ectedIndex=396

We used to see several of these in when we lived in Norfolk. Colour varied
from yellow to Orange, with some big ones nearing 3 inches long. Not seen
one since we moved to North Yorkshire though.

Mike