Dolphins spotted off South Shields coast delighting beach-goers

The stunning creatures were spotted by Gazette photographer Stu Norton, breaching the water at Sandhaven Beach on Thursday, July 9.

And their appearance came fresh of the back of more sightings on the North East coast – including in South Tyneside – in previous weeks.

Amateur photographers and keen wildlife watchers have been delighting in the recent appearances of dolphins in our region, with X Factor winner Joe McElderry – who lives in South Shields – taking to social media to share his delight at seeing the animals last month.

Dolphins are a more common sight at the UK coast during the warmer months, as they travel in search of clean water and an abundance of fish.

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