Irish Sea alert for huge Lion's Mane jellyfish

COASTAL communities on both sides of the Irish Sea are being warned to look out for the largest known species of jellyfish.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE

Increased "confirmed" sightings of Lion's Mane jellyfish have been reported on the Irish coastline.

People visiting beaches for swimming and exercise are being advised to take "extra care and attention" in the coming weeks. The warning was issued by Ireland's National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC), which said the creatures "prefer the cooler waters of the Irish Sea".

In an online statement, NPIC said Lion's Mane tentacles can reach two metres in length (6.5ft). It added: "They can sting even when washed up on the beach or when the tentacle becomes detached from the main body. The sting can sometimes be painful and may require medical treatment in a hospital."

Lion's mane stings are rarely fatal but they can cause skin complaints like a bad nettle rash. On its website the North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) says that, occasionally, symptoms can become severe, describing the creature as having "all the beauty and bite of a lion".