PUPILS on a school trip to the North Yorkshire Coast stumbled across a dead body which appeared to have been washed up on the beach.

The students from the High School of Dundee made the grim discovery while on a geography field trip to Whitby this week.

It is believed they were carrying out geographical surveys at Flamborough Head further down the coast and looking at coastal erosion in Selwicks Bay when they came across a man’s body, which appeared to have been washed up on the beach.

The school confirmed the students had been carrying out field work on the beach as part of their higher studies and became aware there was what appeared to be a body on the beach a little distance away.

Staff investigated and called the police, who also involved the coastguard.

The students were moved away and were later offered support from specially trained teachers.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police confirmed a body had been found on the beach.

She said: “At 11am on Monday morning the body of man was discovered on Selwicks Bay, Flamborough.

“The man has not yet been identified and the circumstances are to be established.”