“Thousands” of starfish have washed up on a Welsh coastline with scientists looking to weather changes for the reason behind the strange phenonemon. The creatures were spotted in various parts of the north Wales coastline, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire to Rhyl.

With reports of mass starfish strandings appearing to be on the rise, especially along the Welsh coast, researchers are trying to establish if the trend is linked to climate change. Some suspect it may be linked to “starballing”, a behaviourial respose only discovered relatively recently.

The fish were spotted by grandather Stuart Wimblese who reported seeing “thousands” in water pools and along the shoreline in Prestatyn. “There were literally thousands of them,” he said. “Some were alive by the groynes but sadly some did not make it.”, reports North Wales Live.