Remarkable close up photos show an extremely rare long tailed blue butterfly taking off from a flower as rising temperatures see them settling in the UK.

The migratory butterfly is never normally spotted further north than the Mediterranean but this week several have been caught on camera in Brighton’s Whitehawk Hill nature reserve.

During the 20th century, the species only reached Britain in significant numbers twice – in 1945 and 1990 – but they have a talent for popping up in unusual places.

In 1990, a long tailed blue butterfly appeared in Kensal Green Cemetery in north west London and laid eggs in Gillespie Park near Arsenal's football ground.

In 2003, the butterfly laid eggs on the North Downs close to Denbies vineyard.

But, in recent years due to global warming the species has settled on England’s south coast.

Photographer Andrew Fusek Peters captured one of the butterflies taking off from a flower at the reserve off Manor Hill.

He said: “Due to global warming, this infrequent migrant from the continent is now breeding around Brighton on the south coast.

“They are one of the last butterflies of the year to be on the wing from late September into October.”