BEACHGOERS along Cardigan Bay are being warned to be careful following several reports of poisonous yet colourful creatures washing ashore.

Mid and North West Wales Coastguard say they have received several reports over the weekend of Portuguese man o’ war, which look similar to jellyfish, washing up on beaches along Cardigan Bay, from Barmouth to Ynyslas.

The Coastguard is urging people to be wary if they spot on one the beach, saying their sting ‘can pack a punch and they can still sting weeks after being washed ashore’.

The venomous sting of the Portuguese man o’ war can, in some cases, be fatal to humans.

The Marine Conservation Society says: “Whilst this creature bears some resemblance to jellyfish, the Portugese man o’ war is in fact a floating colony of hydrozoans.

“Look out for an oval shaped, transparent float which is blue/purple in colour.

“Below the oval float hang ‘fishing polyps’ that can be tens of metres long and can be dangerous to humans due to their powerful sting.

“These are usually relatively rare in the UK but are washing up in large numbers this autumn along the South West coast.”