Loch Ness Monster 'found' as sonar image shows massive underwater creature

The Loch Ness Monster may have been captured on hi-tech equipment in her mystical home amid a flurry of sightings of the legendary beast.

A visitor to the Highlands claims to have caught Nessie swimming deep in the murky waters - the third time the prehistoric resident has been caught this summer.

The spotter, named by the official Loch Ness Monster sightings register as Brandon Scanlon, claims to have recorded a sound image of a creature rumoured to be between 3-4 metres (around nine to 13 feet) long below the waves.

Mr Scanlon was travelling on the 'Nessie Hunter' vessel - used to ferry passengers on journeys around the Loch.

It comes after a number of reported sightings in July and August purporting to be the alleged plesiosaurus.

According to the register, during the latest sighting, on August 26: "Benjamin Scanlon was on holiday with his family and took a trip on the 'Nessie Hunter' of Loch Ness Cruises.

"He spotted something on the sonar on the boat and caught the image.

"Captain Mike of the boat estimated it to be 3-4 metres in length, at a depth of about 20 metres, while the boat was in water about 40 metres deep."

Plesiosaurus typically grew to a length of around 11ft according to fossil records, placing its size right in the middle of the Captain's estimate.

Recent sightings have included a Mr Veacock claiming to have seen an unidentified creature rise two feet from the water before descending back to the peaty depths while on holiday late last month.

In another incident, a father and daughter claimed to have seen Nessie moving through the water while hiking nearby.

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The register, maintained by a team of volunteers, categorises sightings of the plesiosaurus back to the earliest description in the sixth century when it was reportedly halted in its tracks by St Columba.

Plesiosaurus typically grew to a length of around 11ft according to fossil records, placing its size right in the middle of Mr Veacock's estimate.

Thousands of sightings with a range of validity have been recorded including nine in 2021.

The register can be viewed in full here.