Giant jellyfish discovered washed up on Dumfries and Galloway shoreline

A giant of the jellyfish world has been discovered washed up on a local beach.

D&G Eco Warriors member Lizzie Ritchie came across the monster at Carsethorn on Monday.

The jellyfish – the biggest species found in the British Isles – are regularly found stranded on the shoreline.

But Lizzie’s find more than justified its more popular name – the dustbin lid jellyfish.

The marine wanderers swarm in warmer coastal waters in late spring and often wash up on beaches, sometimes in their hundreds.

According to The Wildlife Trust, their favourite meal is plankton, which the jellyfish often find in waters too shallow for their size.

“Their sting is not normally harmful to humans but barrel jellyfish are still best not handled because they can still sting when dead.”

Lizzie said: “I’m a childminder with Lizzie’s Childminding Service. I was out with the kids when we came across it.”