The trust is not certain if the deaths are linked to a parasite

Eight corpses have been found on either side of the Polden Hills - six of them were discovered in just one month.

Somerset Wildlife Trust is not certain if the deaths are linked to a parasite which is known to affect otters.

Spokesman James Williams said: "It is extremely worrying and unusual because this is the time of year when we don't get much trouble from dead otters."

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He added: "We get a steady trickle of otter deaths scattered all over the county - a fluctuating amount, with July normally being a very low month. We don't know why it's happening."

The marked increase in deaths in Somerset comes at a time when the species is under increasing pressure, said Mr Williams.

The creatures are vulnerable to a fluke, believed to have come from Eastern European ornamental fish released into the county's watercourses.

The parasite does not kill the otters, but causes liver disease and jaundice, which weakens them.