27 February 2024 , 21:29
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Locals have been warned by their local council to keep "dogs and children" away from the thousands of starfish washed up on a beach in Kent.
Spotted between the Margate Winter Gardens and the lido at Margate Beach on Monday, it appeared that thousands of the dead sea creatures were washed up on the shore. The images were shared by Andy Freeman, who posted the bizarre finding in a local Facebook group.
According to the Environment Agency, wash-ups are the norm after spells of bad weather. With Margate reaching low temperatures and experiencing rain and windy weather in the run-up to Monday, the Met Office has also warned of potential flooding.
Thousands of starfish have been spotted (WalesOnline)The Environment Agency says marine life such as whole invertebrates, like starfish, crabs and other crustaceans can be vulnerable to wash-ups as they tend to live in or migrate to shallow water, meaning they are more likely to be swept onto beaches.
Thanet District Council have said they were aware of the incident. They said: "We understand the concern from members of the public when sea life is discovered on the district's beaches. We report all dead aquatic mammals to British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who collect the remains."
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Last April, footage shared by KentLive showed a similar incident at Botany Bay. Meanwhile, a wash-up occurred on a beach in Ramsgate, which was later referred to as "one of the biggest mass strandings on record in the UK", by the Natural History Museum.
While the latest wash-up in Margate has not been reported to the Environment Agency, a spokesperson told Sky News: "Creatures like mussels, starfish, crabs and razor clams occupy rocky habitats and unfortunately can be easily dislodged during unsettled weather, onshore winds or spring tides - causing them to be washed ashore.
"We continue to monitor reports of wash-ups and if people do have concerns about pollution they should report it to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 so we can investigate."