Sharp-eyed shark spotters sought

Shark spotters are being recruited to examine images taken by underwater cameras in an attempt to identify the many species off the Welsh coast.

More than 25 types of shark live in the waters off north Wales, from one of the rarest – the angel shark – to one of the largest, the basking shark.

Throughout last summer, cameras were placed in a conservation area off the Llyn Peninsula. Now volunteers are needed to watch the footage to help build a picture of shark movements.

Meanwhile, a post mortem will be carried out on a whale that washed up on a beach in Cumbria. The 13ft juvenile pilot whale was found at Silloth in the north of the county, Cumbria Whale and Dolphin Watch said.

Sarah Neill, of the Sea Watch Foundation, said the mammal would be taken to Liverpool for an autopsy that would potentially give marine biologists an insight into patterns of whale behaviour.