A 4ft (1.2m) shark has been found washed up on the coast of Redcar.

The male porbeagle shark, which is a member of the great white family, was found on the beach by a member of the public at about 09:00 BST.

John Richardson, conservation officer for the Shark Trust, said it was "rare" for the species to be found washed up on the shore.

Redcar and Cleveland Council have now removed the remains of the critically endangered species from the beach.

Mr Richardson said it was "not unusual" for the species to be seen on the coastline.

He added it was possible the shark had died from natural causes or had been discarded from a commercial fishing boat.

A porbeagle is a "large, streamlined mackerel shark" with a "powerful body", the Shark Trust said.

The sharks are usually less than 10ft (about 3m) in size.



Admin316  

The reason the trawlers discard these shark which are fine eating is they have not allowed to sell them back in the 80's I sold many porbeagles from Scotland where I was a fish merchant.