The baking summer has raised a bumper plankton crop for the harmless giants that feed in our waters. Now wildlife conservationists want the hotspots protected

Record numbers of basking sharks have been spotted off the coast of Britain and Ireland after the recent hot weather boosted levels of their favourite food: zooplankton.

Last year there were only 26 sightings of the 11-metre sharks in two and a half months off the most southerly headland of Cornwall. This year more than 900 sightings have been recorded since the beginning of June.

"Last year we had a really poor year because of the weather. But ...

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