A resident found a shark which had been washed up on the beach at Branksome Chine.

Henry Clark came across the metre long creature at 6.30am this morning as he was about to go for a sea swim off Bournemouth beach.

The 20-year-old said: “Last year I found a sting ray that had been washed up, so I do keep an eye out for things like this, but I have never seen a shark on the beach before.

"It was just on the beach, I put it up on the rocks to see what it was.

"There was a seagull that was pecking at it when I saw it."

Dorset Echo:

Spiny dogfish, also known as spurdogs or mud sharks, are one of the common species of shark, found in abundance along northern Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

The spiny dogfish is grey in colour with white spots, and measures about 60 to 120 cm in length.

Harry added: “I am hoping that it hadn’t been hit by a jet ski or something because I know they do ride quite close to the shore.

“I know there are sometimes quite a few people fishing off the beach at night, so I hope it wasn’t caught and left by them.

“Before Covid, I was out in Africa trying to protect rhinos from poachers, so I do have a keen interest in wildlife.

“It is a bit of shame if it was killed and left there, but let’s hope it was just a natural death.”