'Strange' holes in sand mystify beachgoers

Mysterious holes have appeared at Sandham Bay on Holy Island

Large holes have mysteriously appeared on a beach, leaving walkers and geologists puzzling over what made them.

Elizabeth Thomas, who lives in Durham, regularly goes for walks on Northumberland's Holy Island and said she had never seen anything like the "strange" holes on Sandham Bay.

People on social media said the two cavities, which Ms Thomas said were 2ft (60cm) deep and wider than her size six foot, could be anything from crab burrows to the beginnings of sink holes.

A spokesperson for the British Geological Survey said they could also be blow holes, caused by former industry.

Ms Thomas, an independent bookseller, said: "I walk around the Sandham area a lot and they immediately seemed very odd.

"They looked like elephant eyes, to be honest.

"The left hole looked really strange because it was so deep and it had marks of weathering or claws along the sides."

Ms Thomas said the speculation around the holes had been entertaining

Ms Thomas said she was very entertained by some of the wild speculation from locals after she posted the pictures on social media.

"A lot of people have been suggesting sci-fi creatures which could have caused it," she said.

The British Geological Survey offered other, slightly more prosaic, potential explanations.

A spokesperson suggested, if natural, they could be "blow holes formed by excess pore water pressure as the tide falls", or that the tide could drag finer sand through coarser sand to leave cavities.

"Alternatively, depending on where they are, there may be an anthropogenic influence such as former industry," they said.

"Another possibility is some form of crab hole or similar."

The coastguard has been approached for comment.