A regional news website has launched a new Facebook page aimed at recording sightings of sharks in the waters off its patch.

Hundreds of readers have joined Cornwall Live’s ‘Shark Spotter’ page, which will provide updates on the creatures as well as other news related to marine life found off the Cornish coast.

The page has been set up by reporter Graeme Wilkinson at the beginning of July, and an “incredible” sighting of a blue shark in St Ives harbour had been reported to the group within a week.

So far, more than 700 members have signed up.

Graeme told HTFP: “Shark sightings in Cornwall always cause a huge amount of excitement and we cover them every year. People in Cornwall groan though at the sensational tabloid reports of killer ‘Jaws’ shark sightings.

“We felt there was a gap here for proper reporting of what actually lives off our coast, which is fascinating enough without having to be sensational. The page’s main image of a great white shark menacing a seagull is a joke aimed at our fascination with Jaws and Cornwall’s love/hate affair with the pesky gulls.

“The actual sightings of sharks themselves on camera are incredibly rare – they usually happen in places where there are lots of tourists around like St Ives. We probably get one or two each summer, not including basking sharks which are less rare of course.

“While we always cover these incidents, we decided that having a dedicated Facebook page would help direct people to our stories as well as allowing people to share their own experiences, pictures and videos.”

Cornwall Live was able to publish a “stunning” video of the St Ives shark swimming past bystanders on the beach.

Graeme added: “The reaction was amazing and hundreds of people asked to join the group – not just from Cornwall either but from all around the country.

“At the moment we’re on around 700 members and it growing every day. I’ve been stunned at the reaction to be honest and really pleased that people have been posting their own content.

“It’s not just about sharks either, I also throw in there anything to do with dolphins, jellyfish or marine conservation and there is a big push here to ban single-use plastics which end up in the sea. Cornwall Live has backed the hugely successful Surfers Against Sewage campaign on this issue.

“It’s still early days for the group but exciting times are ahead and we’re hoping for a busy summer.”