Mystery over mass stranding of thousands of starfish

Thousands of starfish have been washed up on an Edinburgh beach.

Wild swimmers were at Wardie Bay in Granton when they came across the animals.

Marine biologists said although they would need to investigate before knowing why it happened they said stormy weather and a rapid change in weather could be the reason for the mass stranding.

Powerful storms dislodge starfish from the seabed, carrying them ashore where they die from exposure.

Last September, thousands of starfish washed up on the beach front at Kirkcaldy promenade as well as on a nearby rocky section of the coastline.

And in December, hundreds were found on Margate Main Sands and at St Mildred's Bay Westgate in Kent.

Hannah Foster discovered thousands of the marine invertebrates at Wardie Bay before going for a swim at 08:00 on Thursday.

She told BBC Scotland News she was "shocked" to make the discovery.

"It was really sad and bizarre to see them all washed up and tangled in the seaweed, there were so many," she said.

"It was so cold last night that half of them were all frozen and dead.

"We did a short swim and took some with us that looked like they still had colour in a bid to save them, I don't know if it would have done anything but you always have to try in these situations.

"A local who has lived near the bay for the last five years said this has only happened once before, it is not a normal sight," the 27-year-old said.

Dr Alasdair O'Dell, a marine biologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban said: "There are a number of factors to consider when events like this occur, so there's no sure way of knowing what caused it without a thorough investigation.

"However, stormy weather and the recent rapid change in temperature could have been contributing factors."