One of the ocean's most mysterious creatures has been spotted close to Portland Harbour.

An ocean sunfish (or mola mola) was seen swimming around by locals and has attracted lots of attention on social media.

It is the largest bony fish on the planet and visits UK seas during the summer months to feast on jellyfish. They can grow to be up to four metres long and can weigh more than two tonnes.

Local resident Liz Hemsley caught the rare fish on camera on Sunday. She said: "We were out sailing in the bay last Sunday. We always keep an eye open for wildlife - this year has been excellent so far with lots of dolphin activity, a bonus of the Covid-19 lockdown, perhaps.

"We spotted this, and luckily I had my camera to hand. I think this must be quite a young sunfish as it was only 2-3feet long. It’s the first time we have seen one of these in Weymouth Bay. I sent the picture to the Marine Conservation Society."

The Dorset Wildlife Trust describes the sunfish as "odd looking" and adds: "It is huge, flat and circular - looking pretty much like a giant swimming head.

"They are often spotted resting on their sides at the surface of the sea, supposedly basking in the sunshine - which is where its English name of sunfish comes from. It has been suggested that this basking behaviour is to help the Sunfish raise its body temperature after diving down to cooler waters to feed. The fin at the surface can easily be mistaken for a shark, but once up close they are unmistakeable."

If you spot a sunfish, report any sunfish sightings to your local Wildlife Trust. They said: "If you spot a sunfish at sea, maintain a distance of 100m and put the engine into neutral if any closer to avoid propeller injury. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust or checking out our Action Pages."