AYRSHIRE Rivers Trust has reported a large porpoise has been washed to shore.

The dead creature was found along Newton shore by a marine and freshwater biologist measuring up to 157cm.

The trust posted on Facebook that the specimen had appeared to have suffered a severe predator attack, possibly by an unknown species of shark.It looked to have at least three distinct bite marks with a radius of around 23 -25cm across.

The size of the bite marks were probably too large for tope (one of the more common shark species nearby) and more likely a blue shark which are also found on the west coast.

Others thought that the injuries could have been sustained from a boat’s propeller.