The public have been warned to report any sightings of rare loggerhead turtles after they were spotted off the south coast

The Marine Conservation Society is urging the public to watch out for loggerhead turtles stranded on local beaches because of a drop in sea temperature.

It comes after Sarah Fargher, of New Forest-based Fuzzacker Guided Walks, spotted the turtles while taking a group along a coast path at Durlston Head in Dorset.

She said: “When one of our group said “it looks like a turtle”, I resorted to some pretty unsubtle persuasion in order to borrow the highest strength binoculars on the cliff.

"As it swam towards us its ochre skin and brown shell became unmistakable; I was so excited when I realised it must be a loggerhead. I just hope it makes its way back to warmer waters.”

The group then spotted a second loggerhead moments later, and they estimated them to be around 50 metres from the shore.

MCS head of biodiversity and fisheries, Dr Peter Richardson, said that of the seven species of marine turtle loggerheads breed at the most northerly latitudes, with the nearest breeding populations to the UK found in the Mediterranean, the Cape Verde Islands and the south eastern USA.

He added: “This is a fantastic record because live loggerhead turtles are rarely spotted in UK seas, but to see two together is incredibly lucky.

“South West inshore surface temperatures waters are about 15oC at the moment. As the seas cool down these turtles will stop feeding, lose condition and suffer from acute hypothermia. If they are lucky, they may strand alive on a beach, and if found in time they can be rescued and rehabilitated back to health with specialist treatment”.

Dr Richardson urged the public not to put any stranded turtles back in the sea because they could become hypothermic, and said anyone who spots one of the creatures should report it to the MCS.

Report sightings by calling 01239 683033.