Loch Ness Monster Sightings Rubbished: Nessie 'Just Floating Logs'

The Loch Ness monster is nothing more than a bunch of floating logs, experts have said following a spate of "confirmed sightings".

Over the last 18 months, there has been a flux of sightings of Nessie, with several people coming forward saying they have seen the elusive beast.

However, the Woodland Trust has now said they most likely saw nothing more than some wood floating in Loch Ness.

A spokesperson said: "Large amounts of wood flows out of the woodland through the two winding rivers that flow into Loch Ness each year, peaking when water is high in late autumn and spring. I think that some of that debris explains the long thin, sometimes stick-like, shapes seen."

Sightings of the Loch Ness monster have emerged intermittently over the last century. Earlier this month, paranormal investigator Jonathon Bright said he had photographic evidence showing Nessie.

"Three years ago, I came to Scotland to investigate the Nessie legend and took thousands of photographs," he said.

"Some people will say it is physical and the monster, others will say it is a trick of the water, others will say it is a hoax. It is what it is and I hope to find more proof now and in the future about what the Loch Ness Monster really is."

The Woodland Trust said "deadfall" washed out by rivers from Urquhart Bay Wood explains recent sightings as well as historic ones.

The Trust said the area is particularly interesting because the trees serve a very useful function: "Urquhart Bay is a really important wet woodland, made up of species such as ash, alder, rowan and willow. It's one of very few intact floodplain woodlands remaining in the UK and has European importance. Challenges such as flooding, movement of the rivers and accumulation of woody debris make it an interesting place to manage."

The extent of belief in the Loch Ness monster in the 1930s was recently highlighted by author David Clarke in his book Britain's X-traordinary Files.

According to the Express, previously unpublished documents show that prominent MPs and naturalists all believed in Nessie's existence and a bounty was placed on the mythical creature's head.

In 1934, an official at the National History Museum explained the policy on hunting the beast: "Should you ever come within range of the 'Monster' I hope you will not be deterred by any humanitarian considerations from shooting him on the spot and sending the carcass to us in cold storage, carriage forward.

"Short of this, a flipper, a jaw or a tooth would be very welcome."