The vibrant blue marine creatures have been found has washed up on Durdle Door Beach.

Velella velella, commonly known as the 'By-the-Wind Sailor' is a colonial hydroid.

They often get mistaken for jellyfish due to their similarity to the Portuguese Man O'War.

They are deep purple or blue in colour and their sting is mild but are no threat to humans.

(Image: Lulworth and Durdle Door Rangers)

A spokesperson for the Lulworth and Durdle Door Rangers said: "While recent sightings at Durdle Door beach have been limited to just a few, their bright blue colour makes them easy to spot. These sailors often wash up in large numbers after stormy weather, driven ashore by strong winds.

"Interestingly, depending on the angle of their sail, they can be divided into two mirror-image forms, one drifting to the right of the wind and the other to the left. Its theorised that this is a form of population control to ensure that not all individuals end up stranded on the same shores.

"Although Velella velella bears a resemblance to the dangerous Portuguese Man O' War - not found on Man O War beach - they are much less harmful to humans. Their mild sting is generally harmless, used primarily to paralyze and capture small fish and plankton as they drift across the ocean.

"Keep a look out on Durdle Door Beach for any of these awesome little creatures. Remember don’t touch."