It was THIS BIG!

[FB.]

Earlier today, I managed to take quick picture of a monster hoverfly-like creature - it was about as large as a hornet, but its head is definitely a hoverfly type.
Can anyone give a better identification?
(the apple is a Spartan, just beginning to colour and with a yeasty "bloom" causing the bluish tint) if anyone is wondering )

[Tam]

Does one of these - Bedfordshire Hoverflies - include your visitor ?
I used this site when I had a new hoverfly in the garden. This year we had great numbers of hoverflies in the garden in the false spring and then they were gone, but fortunately they are starting to reappear. We normally have an abundance, but the weird weather pattern appears to have affected many creatures.

[Two_Sheds]

There is the hornet-mimic hoverfly, it's massive

[FB.]

Thanks, Tam & TS.
I should have guessed that someone would have given the insect such an interesting name.
We do have hornet nests in the nearby countryside and woodland areas, so having hornet-mimics would not be a surprise.
My hoverfly certainly has hornet-like colouring, with those dark brick-red colours - and when moving it looks just like a hornet.

[elleme]

I've had one of those turning up in my garden a couple of summers, scared the life out of me until I found out what it was. This year though it's all been smaller hoverflies.