Shark alert on French Riviera

COASTGUARDS on the French Riviera are on alert after a shark was spotted several times this weekend off the coast of Saint-Tropez.

A professional diver reported seeing the two-metre-long animal at the weekend near the port at the popular tourist destination.

Nicolas Faucon was clearing boat debris from the sea on Saturday, about six metres below the surface, when he came within 50cm of the shark.

He told Var Matin: "It didn't seem to be aggressive. It looked at me and then changed direction."

He quickly returned to the surface, where his wife was waiting in a small boat, but later decided to go back underwater and finish his job. He saw the shark again and spotted it a third time, further away, on the following day.

Coastguards have carried out further searches but have not seen the shark since. No beaches in the area have been closed.