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Has the UK storm sent sent a wayward PENGUIN onto a Cornwall beach?

Chantelle Smith, 25, was walking along Polkerris Beach in western Cornwall when she spotted a short black and white bird.

The weather in Britain is one for the record books - but have the ferocious waves brought a penguin to our shores?

Chantelle Smith, 25, was walking along Polkerris Beach in western Cornwall when she spotted a short black and white bird.

Stunned, she managed to whip out her phone in order to snap the weary traveller waddling along the sands.

Chantelle, of St Blazey in Cornwall, said she believes the creature was a penguin - which are normally found 10,000 miles away in Antarctica.

She said: "I was with a friend walking over to the harbour and I saw it run past.

"At first I thought it was just a rabbit but when I turned on the torch of my phone to have a look I could see it was a penguin - an actual penguin.

"It sat there for ages and I managed to get quite close and take the picture and then ran off. I was just shocked.

"I thought 'that can't be a penguin' but it definitely looked like a penguin. Everybody I have told thinks I am crazy but I am being honest. I am going to call it Pingu."

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Penguins can be found on British land - at London Zoo or Edinburgh zoo. But the aquatic, flightless birds live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere - especially in Antarctica.

But experts say it could be a case of mistaken identity as guillemots and razorbills are similar in appearance when they walk.

Stewart Muir, director of Newquay Zoo said: "I can almost certainly tell you what it is and it's not the first time this has happened.


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"We have had this before over many years. When Guillemots and Razorbills stand up they look like little penguins.

"They can give a fair impression under water as well as they can swim at great speed using their short wings."