A STRANDED dolphin found washed up on a South Lakeland beach has 'raised a few questions'.

The adult male short-beaked common dolphin was discovered at the Humphrey Head peninsula, near Flookburgh.

A spokesman for Living Seas North West, which posted photographs of the creature to social media, said the incident had 'raised a few questions'.

"We tend to find more harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins using these waters of the Irish Sea, with common dolphins being a lot less common," he said.

The spokesman said the dolphin 'seemed to have no obvious or visible signs of injury, aside from a few pecks and damage as a result of being moved in and out with the tide'

"This is the second report of a dead common dolphin stranded in the area in recent weeks," he said.

"The first was found at Allonby Bay on the edge of the Solway, with a significant amount of decomposition."