WHALE watchers have been out in force to see the Humpback Whale cruising around Newquay Bay on Friday.

The whale was spotted jumping majestically out of the water as it swam from Bedruthan to Newquay. It was spotted breaching the surface on a number of occasions on its journey.

Record numbers of whales have been seen off the Cornish coast in recent weeks. They are believed to be feeding before making their journey to warmer waters.

The Cornwall Wildlife Trust believes the higher number of Humpback whales being spotted in the region is down to whaling being reduced.

The Humpback whale population had reduced to five per cent but after the species was protected in the 1960s numbers have increased. Minke whales and Fin whales visit Cornish waters the most regularly, but Sperm whales and bowhead whales have also been spotted.