After recent rough seas and strong winds, an unusually large number of starfish were found lifeless in a section of Walpole Bay, Margate.

The local council encouraged residents not to attempt to move them and to keep dogs and children away, due to fear of ‘infectious or transferable diseases.’

One of the first to see the mass wash-up, was new resident Vicent Hawkins who described the scene as ‘sad and shocking’, according to reports from a local newspaper.

However, for residents of the local area this is not an unusual occurrence, with similar incidents recorded in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2018.

The Environment Agency says marine life such as whole invertebrates, like starfish, crabs and other crustaceans are vulnerable to wash-ups at this time of year due to the adverse weather. Starfish are particularly at risk because they live on the soft, sandy parts of the ocean floor and are easily picked up by waves, so when water currents become stronger with choppy conditions, they wash to the shore.