Dave the worm's death causes social media outrage

The death of the largest earthworm found in the UK, named Dave, has led to outrage on social media.

Many questioned why the invertebrate, measuring 40cm (15.7in), was euthanised in "the sad bit of science" so he could be preserved in the Natural History Museum collection in London.

It led to #justicefordave trending on Twitter.

A Natural History Museum spokeswoman added that "only very few" earthworms were kept as a record, adding that the specimens "help scientists better understand and protect the natural world".