KILLER JELLY FISH HIT UK

BRITS are bracing themselves for an invasion of monster jellyfish after they were seen off the coast of Cornwall.

In 2014 the UK saw millions of the dustbin-lid sized sea creatures in its waters after a boom in their food and an unusually warm spring.

So this year’s warm March and April are likely to lead to another jellyfish swarm this summer.

Ben Spicer, director of Cornish Rock Tors Ltd, was out on a paddle board recently when he spotted the huge barrel jellyfish under his board near Port Gaverne.

He said: “I saw a few other barrel jellyfish in the days leading up to seeing this one.

“It was quite a big one, but they are gentle giants – they’re pretty much harmless to humans.

“I was out by myself when I managed to spot this one but we have seen them out with groups before.

Sting

“People can be a little scared, but they’re usually quite happy to look from a distance. “They’re amazing creatures. “You don’t see amazing things like this every day but when you do, it makes a good day even better.

“It’s quite early to see them, from my experience, but they tend to come in every year – and they’re awesome.

According to the charity Buglife, the barrel jellyfish is one of the largest to visit UK waters, and can measure up to 90cm with a weight of 35 kilos – but its sting is too weak to hurt humans.

The jellyfish have also been spotted in St Agnes, Perranporth and Padstow.