If you spotted a giant beetle in your North Ayrshire garden recently - watch out… it could be an endangered species.

Last year, a stag beetle was spotted in North Ayrshire for the first time. The sighting was incredibly unusual as they don’t usually live so far north.

And with that in mind, locals have been urged to take part in The Great Stag Hunt, which records all sightings of the rare beetle across the UK.

The study has been run by wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) for over 20 years.

I live in a stag beetle hotspot and see a good number around most years - they are impressive creatures.