Prawn fishermen caught more than they bargained for when they landed a 21-stone shark in their nets.

The trawlermen could not believe their eyes when they found the 8ft-long Porbeagle shark thrashing amongst their catch.

The beast, a cousin to the man-eating Great White, is thought to be one of the biggest ever found off the River Tyne.

Owner of Seaview Fisheries Tony Asiamah, who bought the prize catch, said: "This is definitely the biggest shark I have ever seen. "

The shark was brought ashore by the crew of the 40ft Scottish trawler, Mizpah, who landed it 15 miles off the Tyne.

The Porbeagle is a fast-swimming, potentially dangerous shark found in the North Sea and Mediterranean, Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans. The biggest ever caught was 12 feet long and weighed 33 stone.