Shark closes Atlantic beach

Red flag flown as creature spotted at tourist hot spot.

Lifeguards closed a beach on the Atlantic coast after a shark was spotted in the waters.

The director of the tourist office at La Baule in the Loire-Atlantique, Yan Baczkowski said the species was a blue shark – barely one metre long – but precautions had been taken anyway.

“He turned around the bay a few times and then he left,” said Mr Baczkowski.

Swimming in the area was banned for two hours.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard of a shark around here. Perhaps he wanted to spend his holidays here? I’ve seen Jaws and I know that it’s not good for the tourists,” he added.

Photo:AFP/MustafaOzer