A RARE crab has been discovered off the Dorset coast.

The Columbus crab - first discovered by Christopher Columbus - has not been recorded in Britain for 100 years.

Dorset Wildlife Trust volunteer Steve Trewhella was amazed to find it hiding in a dense cluster of barnacles.

The goose barnacles were attached to a fishing buoy that had drifted across the Atlantic from America.

Steve Trewhella said: "This really is a very exciting discovery.

"There are only a handful of records of these crabs in Britain and virtually none in the last 100 years."

The crab lives on drifting objects and originates in the tropical Sargasso Sea near Florida.

It is thought that the crab was swept up the Gulf Stream and carried thousands of miles before landing on British shores.

The Dorset Wildlife Trust says recent stormy weather has brought an unprecedented amount of long haul litter' to our beaches.

This includes items that have been traced back to Florida, Canada and Newfoundland.

Further searches have uncovered several Columbus crabs at Chesil Beach, Portland and Hengistbury Head.

Fifteen crabs have been taken to the Marine Centre at Kimmeridge.

Some have not survived but the remaining ones can be seen at the Centre's aquarium every weekend between 12 and 4pm.

Marine conservation officer for the Trust, Julie Hatcher said: "The crabs would be among drift items up on the beach out of the water which is unusual for crabs.

"It's quite a small crab, even the big ones are only an inch across.

"The colour is very varied because it changes to blend in with the background - the ones we found in driftwood were a chocolatey brown and the ones in goose barnacles were a creamy grey."

She added: "They are completely non-aggressive and won't nip you.

"But if you pick them up they will cling to your hand the way they would driftwood.

"It's really exciting - we're wondering what will be next to wash in, possibly a turtle - it wouldn't be too surprising."

Dorset Wildlife Trust is asking beach walkers to keep a look-out for unusual sightings as all sorts of strange creatures could be washing in with the recent storms.

Anyone with information can call the marine centre at Kimmeridge on 01929 481044.