A rare sturgeon, barely seen off the British coast in a century, has been landed by two boys fishing with cold sausage as bait.

The 3ft fish was caught with a small rod in Pembroke Dock, South Wales.

A local fisherman identified it, and told the boys the sturgeon is a ‘royal fish’ and ought to be offered to the Queen.

It is also a protected species so should be returned to the sea – which they did, but possibly only after it had died.

Steve Colclough, of the Institute for Fisheries Management, said: ‘It could have come from an East European caviar farm.

‘Restocking abroad means shoals of sturgeon could become more common in our waters soon.’

Associated Newspapers Ltd