A SMALL loggerhead turtle discovered dead on Widemouth Bay is the first Cornish turtle record of 2012 and could play an important part in finding out more about these long distance ocean travellers says the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

The juvenile loggerhead turtle, listed as an endangered species, was just 26.4cm in length and is the 215th loggerhead turtle on record in UK and Ireland. It was spotted by a couple out walking along Widemouth Bay.

The pair said they found the turtle in perfect condition, upside down on rocks on an afternoon walk on January 9. The couple reported it to MCS via the UK Turtle Code after the charity urged walkers to get in touch with sightings of dead or alive turtles, after some rare Kemp ridley and green turtles were found on beaches in Wales and Scotland over the Christmas period.

Find out how the turtle washed up on our shores in this week's 'Post'.