Hundreds of dead sand eels washed up on Jersey beaches

Hundreds of dead sand eels have been found on Jersey beaches.

The environment department said the eels had been found on beaches in St Clement, Bonne Nuit, St Ouen and Ouaisne over the weekend.

There are three species of sand eels in Jersey and they can be anything from a couple of inches to 6 in long.

The environment department said it would be examining samples to find out what caused the deaths.

The eels live in the loose sand under the sea and can survive by burying into the sand when it is low tide.

They live in giant shoals and are very common around the island's shores.

Fishermen often use them for bait, but the larger ones can be eaten.

The ones that have been washed up along the coast were all young.