Thousands of fish have washed up on a Dorset beach

It is understood that the fish which a witness described as sprats or whitebait had been chased onto Eype beach by larger predator fish like mackerel which is a natural phenomenon that occurs every year – but not usually in October.

A beachgoer described seeing ‘thousands of dead fish along the whole shoreline with more being washed up, jumping around and then dying on the beach.’

Many visitors to Eype Beach agreed that they had never seen this many fish wash up so late in the year and that it is more common sighting in August.

A Dorset Wildlife Trust spokesperson said: “This is a natural phenomenon which happens as a result of fish being chased by shoals of mackerel.”