Firebug Nymph (Pyrrhocoris apterus)
/Firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), known locally as “Gendarmes” are common in France, often associated with Lime trees. This is a nymph, not a full adult, found in the garden in Frejus. Seems these bugs didn’t become too widely established in UK yet. The small beetles are not identified - one morning there were thousands of them all over the outside of the garden compost bin.