Dolphin cash raised by 'mermaids'

The "mermaid" walk raised funds for future dolphin rescues

A volunteer involved in the rescue operation after a mass stranding of dolphins in Cornwall has raised more than £1,300 for contingencies.

A total of 26 dolphins died when they became trapped in a Cornish creek near Portscatho in June.

Michelle Robinson, who is trained as a marine mammal medic, walked the Cornish coast dressed as a mermaid to raise funds for dolphin rescue equipment.

She said dealing with the stranding had been a "traumatic" experience.

Communication problems

The 33-year-old from Bude and her friend Claire Topham, from Somerset, walked from St Ives to Penzance dressed as mermaids to raise money for British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

The charity was instrumental in the operation to try to save some of the dolphins stranded near St Mawes.

The money raised will be used to buy walkie-talkies for the charity's volunteers in Cornwall.

Michelle said: "The main problem we have here is trying to keep communication open with the co-ordinators, medics, vets, headquarters etc.

Michelle is raising funds to deal with future dolphin strandings

"When the stranding happened, we had a fair few problems using mobiles out of signal range, so the walkie-talkies are weather proof and have a super strong signal."

Michelle is one of a network of volunteers around the country who are on standby to help animals who get stuck along the coastline.

Post-mortem examinations of some of 26 dolphins found dead in June have revealed no clues as to the cause of the mass stranding.

They appear to have been well fed and there were no obvious signs of disease or poisoning, results showed.