BASKING sharks have been sighted giving birth off the north coast of Cornwall in what could be the first time the event has been witnessed in UK waters.

The pregnant females were spotted swimming among a shoal of more than 30 of the gentle giants feeding on plankton around five miles off the Newquay coastline.

Marine experts say the rare scene is of great importance because so little is known about the giant sharks' breeding behaviour.

David Waines, manager of Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium, witnessed part of one delivery while a female was 20 metres from his boat.

He said it was an "amazing experience".

"One came over and she had three tails hanging out of her back end. When we realised there were some young ones we got right out of the way so as not to upset or disturb them," he said.

"There was more than one birthing mum out there. This is the first time I have ever seen anything like this before. It was astonishing – they are huge creatures."

Mr Waines was four to five miles out from Newquay Bay photographing the shoal when he noticed the spectacular event.

"It was absolutely amazing: I have never seen so many basking sharks in one place before."

Tom Hardy, marine conservation officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: "We have had reports of basking sharks spotted giving birth.

"It is extremely rare to see this and possibly the first time it has been witnessed in the UK."