Portuguese men o' war wash up on Cornish coast in large numbers

Creatures, which can deliver a painful and occasionally fatal sting, have been blown in from the open ocean by strong winds

An "unprecedented" number of Portuguese men o' war have washed up on the Cornish coastline in recent days, causing lifeguards to close a beach on Monday and issue safety advice.

More than 140 of the floating tentacled organisms, which can deliver a painful sting that can be fatal in rare circumstances, have been spotted off the Cornish coast in the last three days, according to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. They are reported to have been blown in by strong south-westerly winds.