Thousands of baby lobsters released in challenge

More than 1,000 baby lobsters have been released in the water around St Michael's Mount

More than 1,000 baby lobsters have been released in the waters around St Michael's Mount in Cornwall as part of an anniversary 'releasathon'.

The release marked the end of a challenge by The National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) to conduct 25 lobster releases in 25 locations over 25 consecutive days for its 25th anniversary.

The challenge began on 19 May on the Isles of Scilly and included other releases in locations including Charlestown, Mousehole and Polzeath.

The NLH said "just shy of 5,000 juveniles" had been released in waters around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as part of the project.

The charity said it was "hugely rewarding" to collaborate with other organisations

The NLH was founded in Padstow in August 2000 to help preserve, research and educate the public about the European lobster.

The charity said it was "hugely rewarding" to collaborate with other organisations and "provide another generation of lobsters to Cornwall's coastal waters".

In a post on social media, the team at St Michael's Mount thanked everyone who helped release the 1,088 baby lobsters in the surrounding water on Thursday.

It said: "At just two months old and barely an inch long, these baby lobsters were fully developed and ready to embark on life in the wild.

"Once released, some began burrowing into the sand of the rock pools, others tucked themselves beneath the sheltering seaweed, and a few wasted no time feasting on the fresh sea lettuce."

Earlier in the 'releasathon' Theo Johns, senior technician at NLH, told BBC Radio Cornwall it was the "perfect point" in time to release the baby lobsters.

Mr Johns said: "It's at this stage in their life cycle that they become benthic, meaning they settle on the seabed and live in there [for 12 to 18 months]."

He said burrowing in the sediment was an important stage in the lobsters' lives as it helped them learn how to live in the sea.