Mile-long cluster of jellyfish with ‘very painful’ sting spotted off southwest coast as thousands flock to beaches

Photographer says he saw 'couple of thousand' jellyfish at coast around Devon

Resorts in the southwest of England have reported high numbers of jellyfish sightings this year (Darren Murray / SWNS.COM)

Jellyfish which can produce a “very painful” sting have been sighted around the south coast of England as thousands of people are expected to flock to the seaside this weekend to enjoy the UK heatwave.

Resorts in the southwest have reported a high number of sightings of the sea creatures this year, with surfers and swimmers reporting being regularly stung.

Darren Murray, an explorer and wildlife expert, captured images of compass jellyfish - which are known to give a painful sting - off Brixham, Devon, while in his kayak.

The 48-year-old said he saw a “couple of thousand” jellyfish in a mile-long cluster, known as a bloom.

Mr Murray said he saw three different types - moon, compass and an unidentified blue jellyfish.

“There were loads and loads of them, a couple of thousand I reckon,” he said.

“[The compass jellyfish] come in on high tides. If you see them they're not going to come get you, but you need to be careful around them

“Swimmers sometimes get stung on the face and that can be very painful.”

Mr Murray added that the number of jellyfish in the area was increasing and the creatures were coming to the UK earlier in the year as the sea gets warmer.

Jellyfish have also been spotted in the water off Plymouth, Devon, and in Cornwall, around Par, Polzeath and Falmouth.

James Oldfield, a media worker from Falmouth, said the prevalence of jellyfish in the area had made him “scared to get into the sea”.

"I've been stung before and the pain lasted for days,” Mr Oldfield said.

“I haven't been stung yet this year, but if I knew there were jellyfish in the water I think I'd stay out.”

The warning came as large numbers of people are expected to travel to beaches along the south coast this weekend amid a heatwave which is set to last until at least Sunday.

A heat-health warning was issued on Friday as the Met Office reported a temperature of 36.4C in London, making it the hottest August day since 2003.

Members of the public were also warned to avoid a number of areas due to fears of overcrowding at some beaches.

On Friday afternoon, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's beach check app showed 19 of its 24 beaches were under red alert, warning people against travel as safe social distancing was not possible.

Additional reporting by agencies