Sea swimming banned over Man o' War fears

Swimming has been banned at a number of beaches in Morbihan, after a number of potentially deadly Portuguese Man o' War washed ashore.

Local authorities in Ploemeur, Guidel, Larmor-Plage and Erdeven took the decision to temporarily ban people from taking a bracing Toussaint holiday dip after a number of creatures were spotted in and around Lorient.

The creatures - members of the siphonophores family rather than jellyfish - are more usually found in warmer waters further south, but can be carried north by recent Atlantic storms.

Even dead animals washed up on the beach can be dangerous. The tentacles can deliver a intensely painful sting for hours or days after they wash up on shore. The stings cause red welts that look like burns on the skin, and can cause fever, cramps, vomiting, loss of consciousness, even death.

Anyone who does touch a tentacle is advised to seek urgent medical assistance.

Swimmers in Finistère were urged to be on alert in September, after the animals were spotted there. Their presence also forced the closure of a number of beaches in the Gironde back in 2011.