IN September 2017, a venomous Portuguese man o’war was found washed up on Weston-super-Mare’s beach.

Julian Goldsworth was walking along the beach with his granddaughter Amelia when they came across the stranded sea creature.

Speaking at the time, Mr Goldsworth said: “We were walking towards the Tropicana when we spotted it. It was about two and a half inches long and was blue.

“I dug a trench using my hands, let it fill with water and lifted it from its ballooned head.”

Dr Peter Richards, head of ocean recovery at the Marine Conservation Society (MSC), said in 2017: “They are not supposed to be in our seas but when there are strong winds and bad weather they can be blown in.

“We have had them in very small numbers in the past but this year has been unlike anything we have ever seen before – with more than 200 cases reported.”

The MSC website reads: "The Portuguese man o' war has a distinctive transparent, gas filled float with a crest. They're blue-purple in colour, with many hanging ‘fishing polyps’ below that may be tens of metres long.

"These are extremely dangerous to humans due to their powerful sting. They rarely occur in the UK but should be reported to the local authorities if found in large numbers.

"Be very careful! This animal stings."

RNLI Portishead also urged people not to go near the venomous species and to keep children and pets away from them.