Images of what appears to be a floating ship have been captured as the result of a rare optical illusion off the coast of England.

David Morris took a photo of the ship while walking near Falmouth, Cornwall.

BBC meteorologist David Braine said the "superior mirage" occurs because of "special atmospheric conditions that bend light".

He said the illusion is common in the Arctic, but can appear "very rarely" in the UK during winter.

Mr Morris said he was "stunned" after capturing the picture while looking out to sea from the hamlet of Gillan

Mr Braine said: "Superior mirages occur because of the weather condition known as a temperature inversion, where cold air lies close to the sea with warmer air above it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-56286719