Concern after latest dolphin deaths in Cornwall

At least ten dead dolphins have been washed up on beaches in the West Country in the past couple of weeks.

It is unclear what is behind the recent strandings, but potential causes include illness, the effects of pollution and entanglement in fishing nets. In recent years, the local fishing community has trialed using pingers on nets which emit a sound to try and keep dolphins away.

According to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, 61 whales, dolphins and porpoises were found dead around the local coastline in the first three months of 2016, the highest number since 2006.

The latest deaths coincide with numerous sightings of common dolphins around the Cornish coast in recent weeks, including in St Ives harbour earlier this month.