Residents have been urged not to touch the Portuguese man o' war jellyfish that have been washing up on the west Dorset coast.

Dog walkers are also urged to take care and keep dogs away from them.

Due to stormier conditions, there have been reports of them on beaches at West Bay and Seatown.

Sarah Hodgson, seasonal Kimmeridge assistant at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: "These fascinating oceanic drifters live on the surface of the sea, dangling long, stinging tentacles below to ensnare their prey.

"Whilst they closely resemble jellyfish, they are siphonophores and rather than being a single animal, they are actually a colony of tiny organisms working together but performing different functions. They also have an extremely painful sting, so do not touch."