This incredible scene greeted photographers on the Welsh coast this week. It is a natural phenomenon caused by bioluminescent plankton which gives the sea a stunning blue glow. The mesmerising sight was captured by photographer Lee McGrath on the popular Southerndown beach near Bridgend at 3am on Friday.
He said: "Me and a couple [of] other local photographers go looking for the plankton this time of year, I was fortunate again to be one of the first to see it again this year. "It’s always magical to see and a real pleasure to capture it on camera. I also recently caught the northern lights locally so to catch both so close to home is amazing.
" For the latest Bridgend news, sign up to our newsletter here READ MORE: People are stealing fish from Eryri's famous 'floating island' lake READ MORE: Come Dine With Me winner takes over pub in Welsh beauty spot It's not the first time that Lee - a Neath Port Talbot hospital worker and photography hobbyist - has captured the sight, having produced similar photographs of the algae-like species on Caswell Bay at the Gower coast. He warned others hoping to catch a glimpse of the bewitching sight to prioritise their safety. "I would just advise people who go to the beach at night to be careful, keep and eye on the tides and you do not need a torch to see this so lights are to be kept to a minimum," he said.
The glow happens when bioluminescent plankton, tiny creatures floating in the sea, emit light when they are disturbed by a predator .