There has been heartbreak and horror in equal measures as locals hoping for an early morning stroll on the beach were greeted by thousands of dead sea creatures mysteriously washed ashore.
Residents looking to get down the the beach at Marske-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, this morning were met by horror scenes.
Thousands of dead fish, crabs, lobsters, clams and starfish had all washed ashore, dead, YorkshireLive reported.
Photographer Sharon Bell was walking her dog there this morning and one of the first to find the dead littered across the sand.
Jemima Stubbs also found thousands of dead razors nearby at Saltburn Beach.
Sharon said this has marked at least the third time in the past 12 months that masses of dead sea creatures have washed ashore.
"I thought, no – not again," she said.
She added: "I'm really concerned this has started up again. Personally, I don't think enough testing has been done."
She added that larger than normal numbers of dead marine animals – including dolphins and porpoises – have been a regular sight at Marske since October 2021, shortly after deep dredging at Teesport began.
Some locals believe that deep dredging at Teesport has stirred up toxic waste from the area’s past industry.
Sharon said she was sceptical about Defra's explanation it was down to a natural algae bloom after a previous similar tragedy.
"You don't normally get algae blooms in such cold temperatures. I'd like an independent investigation, not one by Defra.”
She raised concerns that the dredging was still ongoing as well.
In October, last year, thousands of crustaceans and molluscs washed up dead on the North Yorkshire coast, sparking a Defra investigation.
The government department concluded a natural algae bloom was the most likely cause although many fishermen and coastal residents have disputed this.
