 Lobsters are known to be territorial creatures |
A giant lobster thought to be more than 30 years old has been found standing guard over a barnacle-encrusted watch off the Northumberland coast. The 2ft crustacean was spotted by divers carrying out maintenance work at Blyth Harbour.
The watch, thought to have been there for three years, was still telling the time accurately.
The lobster has been taken to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth where it is said to be settling in well.
'Extremely territorial'
Graham McDonnar, a member of the Lady Francis Dive Team which found the lobster, said: "We are all highly experienced divers and none of us has seen anything like this before.
"Not only is this the biggest lobster any of us has ever come across underwater but it's also the first sea creature we've encountered that can tell the time."
Blue Reef's Zahra d'Aronville said: "Lobsters are well known for being extremely territorial.
"Perhaps it identified the watch as part of its territory and has been standing guard over it ever since."