Portuguese men-of-war have been washed up on beaches in Cornwall according to council officials.

There have been sightings of 13 men-of-war at Portheras Cove in west Cornwall and others at Summerleaze and Widemouth beaches in north Cornwall.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said sightings were on the increase.

The Portuguese man-of-war is not a jellyfish but is closely related, and consists of many tiny marine organisms behaving collectively as one animal.

The man-of-war can cause severe pain, and in rare cases, death.

via BBC News – Portuguese men-of-war sightings on Cornish beaches.