What is this wasp type thing?

[gretsch-drummer]

Spotted this creature on the driveway today, never seen anything like it before:

2017-07-23_05-17-18 by Andy Wilcock, on Flickr

[moorx]

Quick Google search suggests it might be a Wood Wasp.....?

[andym1603]

Definitely a wood wasp. You can hear them coming from a good distance. Harmless to everything apart from trees. The "Sting" is basically an auger bit for drilling into the bark to lay their eggs.

[55palfers]

Yes, your rafters are being mined as we speak!

[Boosted LS1]

What an interesting fellah. Its good they don't sting.

[Turn7]

Huge great scary looking critters with big wings,thankfully harmless.

[gretsch-drummer]

A pigeon was eyeing it up for lunch but had 2nd thoughts when it realised it was BLOODY MASSIVE!!!

A stunningly bright bugger though.

[Yipper]

As above, they lay eggs in dead wood with that "stinger" thing and the babies feed on the dead wood after birth. Totally harmless to humans and more a fly than a wasp. Impressive looking insects. Very lucky to see one up-close.