Three giant leatherback turtles have been washed up dead on west coast Scottish beaches within days of each other after travelling thousands of miles from the Caribbean.

A leading marine scientist described the strandings as “unprecedented.” They are first turtle strandings recorded in Scotland for five years.

One was found near Elgol on Skye on October 13. Two days earlier another was recovered at Arinagour Bay on the isle of Coll.

[Leatherback tutles have been washed up in Orkney previously although the report above is not to do with Orkney]