Gruesome sight for Sea Scouts

Members of the 1st Ferring Sea Scout Group found the carcass while they were cleaning Ferring Beach on Saturday morning.

Steve O'Donnell, chairman of the group, said: "It was the most unusual thing we have ever found and the beach clean-up event has been going for years and years.

"It was discovered by one of the adults but a couple of the children did see it. It caused a lot of excitement. I hope it was just washed up and wasn't part of some ritual killing or something."

The youngsters filled more than 30 black bin liners with rubbish collected from the beach between Sea Lane and the Bluebird Caf, but no other finds were as grisly or caused such a reaction as the sheep.

Steve added: "The kids really seem to enjoy the clean-up.

"It's about doing something for the community and it helps the children appreciate the effect rubbish has on the beach.

"This year the amount of rubbish wasn't as bad as in previous years. Last year we found petrol cannisters which must have been dumped by a boat. Usually it's just your normal rubbish; litter and some beach towels which people leave as well.

"The thing that is quite sad is we have been finding more and more needles lying around but that's just a sign of the times I suppose.

"The council gives us a box to put them in and obviously the children aren't allowed to pick them up. They have to call an adult over and we pick it up."

The 1st Ferring Sea Scout Group is in need of a Scout leader for the 11 to 14 age group. There are also spaces for any youngsters who want to join the Beavers group. Anyone interested can contact Steve on 01903 506071.