FURNESS and Millom onlookers have been saddened to hear that an injured dolphin didn't make it following a Morecambe Bay rescue attempt.

Emergency services tried to help the stranded young mammal which was stuck on the sands off Morecambe on Sunday afternoon.

It is understood that some people out fishing had raised the alarm about the injured dolphin.

Morecambe Coastguard, The RSPCA and Lancashire Police all attended the shore at around 4pm to try and assist the mammal.

But the Coastguard service confirmed that the dolphin was put to sleep due to the nature of injuries.

The rescue attempt attracted a lot of attention from members of the public. A crowd of people, including onlookers from the Furness and Millom area, had stood watching on the promenade, close to Morecambe Winter Gardens, hoping for the dolphin to be rescued.

One Millom resident who was visiting Morecambe for the day and saw the rescue attempt, said: "We saw a crowd of people on the prom, right by the Winter Gardens, and went to see what was happening.

"You could see the emergency services on the sands and the word was that they were trying to help a baby dolphin.

A lot of people were concerned for the dolphin and hoped it would be ok. It is sad that these things happen."

A Barrow mum, who also saw the rescue attempt while visiting Morecambe, said: "The poor little thing, what a shame."