Dead dolphin found on Cornish beach

It's thought the dolphin may have been killed by eating plastic Credit: Emily Stevenson

A bottlenose dolphin has been found dead in Trevone Bay in Cornwall.

Rob Stevenson made the discovery with his children while they were out litter picking on the beach.

The picture they took shows the dolphin next to a pile of plastics, rope, bottles, flower pots and deodorant canisters.

More than 130 dolphins and porpoises have washed up on Cornwall's beaches and in the nets of fishing boats since the beginning of the year, according to Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

This is a big increase on previous years. The toll for the whole of last year was 205, while in the two previous years the numbers were under 100.

It is estimated there are 13,000 pieces of plastic litter per square kilometre of the world's oceans.

Around the globe an estimated one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die each year when they become trapped in plastic or eat it.

Volunteers from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust have now moved the dolphin to another location.

An autopsy is due to be carried out to establish the cause of death.