Wildlife experts believe a rare species of whale has been spotted near Cornwall.

The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust said it had received reports of 17 whale sightings, external in the waters around the islands between 29 December and 8 January, with minke and humpback whales among those spotted.

The charity added one of the whales seen in the water between St Mary’s and St Agnes was potentially a rare breed they were trying to identify.

Jay Cowen, from the trust, told BBC Radio Cornwall it was believed the whale was either a Cuvier’s beaked whale or a northern bottlenose.