91Èȱ¬

A mass stranding of thousands of sea creatures on a beach in Cornwall has been reported.

Commonly referred to as by-the-wind-sailors, they were found washed up at Portheras Cove on Thursday evening.

Previously a colony of the creatures closely related to the Portuguese man o' war were washed up on beaches around Guernsey.

Marine biologist Delia Webb said: "We've had two mass strandings, one in April and this one yesterday - the cove was just covered in thousands of these little creatures that had been blow ashore."

She said: "It is sad that they're stranded, they're not going to survive without the water.

"There's not a great deal anyone can do when there's such a strong... wind.

"They are a species that like warmer water so the fact that we are getting more of them and in more numbers, it makes it really interesting that they're more prevalent around the UK."

Follow 91Èȱ¬ Cornwall on , and . Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk, external.