This video shows the sighting that a lucky group of day trippers had, as their boat was circled by a 25ft-long basking shark.

The gentle giant approached the little fishing boat when it stopped in the water off Mullion.

Everyone on board held their breath as they watched an ominous dorsal fin slowly approach, weaving through the calm of sunset.

But as the shark neared the boat they realised it was a basking shark, and although they are monstrous in size they are known as the harmless gentle giants of the deep.

Basking sharks are regular visitors to the waters off Cornwall but it is thought that the mild winter has seen them arrive earlier than in previous years.

Nicholas Casley managed to capture the sighting on video, and filmed the massive shark circling the boat.