SMALL octopuses have been spotted in the Thames Estuary off Chalkwell Beach ... which fisherman claim is a clear sign the water quality “is good”.

A series of posts have cropped up on social media in recent days after swimmers spotted the small creatures in the water close to Chalkwell Beach.

Previously, the Gazette's sister paper the Echo has reported on octopuses being spotted near Southend Pier, but they haven’t been seen this close to the shore until now.

Paul Gilson, a Leigh fisherman and town councillor, said: “This just proves we’ve got good quality water. This has never happened before in my lifetime and there’s lots, not just the odd one.

“A fortnight ago there was apparently a very large sting ray caught. It was lost because they couldn’t lift it out of the water, it was so big.

“Again, absolutely unheard of and now an octopus which likes good clean water and is normally found in the South West is here. We’ve got them underneath Southend Pier now clearly they are spreading on to the foreshore.”

Mr Gilson who has disparaged claims sewage outflows by water companies are damaging the marine environment, added: “They are looking for food. Their favourite is crabs. It is a really good sign and shows things are changing. It is a good water indicator when you are getting fish of this quality, octopus and bass.”

In May water quality campaign group Surfers Against Sewage issued a warning to those looking to use Southend Jubilee Beach and Southend Three Shells Beach after sewage outflows by Anglian Water.

The marine conservation charity monitors the water quality across the nation to keep the public in-the-know of any spots affected by sewage.

However, Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy announced Southend was among the winners of the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for summer 2023, naming them as some of the best in the country.

Southend was awarded five Blue Flag Awards, the most awarded to any local authority in the East of England, for East Beach Shoeburyness, Shoebury Common, Thorpe Bay, Three Shells Beach and Westcliff Bay, and eight Seaside Awards for Chalkwell Beach, Jubilee Beach, Thorpe Bay Beach, Three Shells Beach, Shoebury Common Beach, East Beach Shoeburyness, Bell Wharf Beach and Westcliff Bay.