A HEADLESS dolphin has been left stranded on a beach - just weeks after a fin of a great white shark was reportedly spotted yards off the coast.

The deceased sea creature was spotted on the beach in Hove on Monday morning by a runner.

Georgia Tournay-Godfrey, who came across the dolphin at about 8.50am, said she spotted the animal adjacent to The Meeting Place Café in King's Road.

The Argus: Dolphin stranded on Hove beach Dolphin stranded on Hove beach

“I was running along the pebbles just down from Brunswick Terrace and saw this dolphin,” she said.

“My brother and I have been obsessing over the shark spotted in Worthing recently, so my first thought was that the great white had it for breakfast.

“Its head was missing. It was pretty gruesome.”

Photos believed to be of a great white shark were captured by James Venn while he stood on the beach near Goring on February 4.

The Argus: Photos believed to be of a great white shark were captured by James Venn while he stood on the beach near Goring on February 4Photos believed to be of a great white shark were captured by James Venn while he stood on the beach near Goring on February 4

"I went down to the beach to feed the birds when I saw something come up just behind the waves,” he previously told The Argus.

"It surfaced so I ran to grab my camera and looked out to try and see it again before taking the photos. At the time I thought it was a seal but, when I looked at the photos again, I thought it doesn't look like a seal."

Mr Venn sent the images to experienced shark fisherman Graeme Pullen, who said that it was "an undisputed shark".

Mr Pullen said that due to the size and distinctive triangular shape of the dorsal fin, it could only be a mako or a small great white shark.

However, he ruled out the former due to the cold temperature of the water.

The Argus: Dolphin stranded on Hove beach Dolphin stranded on Hove beach

"It can only be a small, immature great white who was looking for seals or bass to eat as they are more likely to come in close (to land) to feed,” he said.

The creature was spotted 30 miles away from another credible sighting of a great white off Hayling Island in Hampshire in 2017.

However, a spokesman for Littlehampton Harbour said the fin sighting was actually the end of a Ferring Outfall pipe.