Footage I captured of what is widely believed to be a starry smooth-hound or 'hound shark'. It was seen swimming in low tide at Cattawade Sluice, near Brantham, Essex. It looked a little distressed and kept probing the perimeter of the pool of water it was in looking for an exit back into the River Stour. Fingers crossed it got out when the tide came in, the was no sign of it later in high tide which was a good sign. Remember be careful when swimming outdoors you never know when Jaws may crop up! Hound sharks are most commonly found in coastal waters, though they are not known for swimming further up rivers - which made this sighting unusual. According to the Shark Trust there are 35 species of shark that can be found around the coastal waters of Britain. These sharks can grow up to five feet long and can weigh up to 13kg.

• published: 02 Sep 2013
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