BRIGHTON was graced with a visit from one of the rarest butterflies in the UK – last seen in Sussex in 1995.

The beautiful monarch butterfly was spotted flying over the Palace Pier on Monday by Chris Corrighan of the RSPB. The butterfly, which is of similar size to a small bird, was then found in the Pavilion Gardens the following day.

Butterfly enthusiast Jake Gearty, 21, took this stunning picture of the butterfly yesterday.

He said: “It was last recorded in Sussex about ten years ago. It was spotted flying over the pier at about 12.45 on Monday, then Chris found it again in the gardens feeding on flowers yesterday.

“We put it out on Twitter and managed to get around 20 people to come and see it in the Pavilion Gardens, which is quite a lot considering the number of butterfly enthusiasts around. Even members of the public and ground staff were taking an interest.”

The huge butterfly is unlike any other species found in Britain. Mr Gearty added: “It originates from the Canaries, but the mark itself is from America. In the 1800s we know a small colony made it to the Canaries and they’ve been there since.

“I think perhaps the hot weather and warm air from the continent has lured it this way. It was a great sight. People were telling me in the gardens that they’d been following butterflies their whole lives but had never seen a monarch. They were chuffed to bits. ”

The butterfly’s presence in Brighton sparked a brief wave of activity over social media. Twitter users frantically exchanged messages about its whereabouts while amateur photographers were quick to upload their own snaps of the colourful creature.

Butterfly expert, Dr Dan Danahar, recorded an on-the-scene video of the action in Pavilion Gardens.

He beamed: “Of all things, there’s a monarch butterfly flying.

“There’s a small group of people arrived here and the excitement is palpable.

“The butterfly is absolutely astonishing, it glides like a paper dart, it’s absolutely amazing. It’s incredible how you get a message and suddenly everyone flocks down.”

The monarch’s days are numbered in Brighton, however, because this particular one has no mate.

Mr Gearty said: “It will survive its life cycle but there won’t be a boom in them anytime soon here.”