MYSTIFIED holidaymakers were “amazed” to discover an exotic creature washed up on the Meirionnydd shore.

Michelle Bebb and her three children Jack, Billy, and Poppy were walking the shoreline between Dyffryn and Barmouth when they were surprised to come across a dead bearded dragon.

The lizards originate from Australia but are often found in UK households as family pets.

Michelle was “amazed” to find the large tropical beast and could not fathom how it ended up on the beach.

“My son Jack found the bearded dragon,” said Michelle, who lives in Shrewsbury but visits Barmouth most weekends.

“We were all amazed to find something like that on the beach. It’s not our usual beach find.

“We were quite sad that such a fabulous animal had been found dead, it looked like it had only recently died as it hadn’t started decomposing.

“We were miles away from any houses for it to be an escaped pet.”