FOOTAGE has been captured of the small shark which startled three women while they were paddling along the shoreline at Sandbanks beach.

A mum, her daughter, Jemma Ashgrove and her daughter's friend, Pippa Mills, were walking at the beach in Poole when they stumbled upon the four-foot Starry Smoothhound.

Bournemouth Oceanarium experts have identified the species, which is native to UK waters and can grow up to to 1.3metres long.

Experts say they are usually found in deeper water, so the paddlers were 'lucky' to see one so close to the beach.

Despite it looking to the contrary, the Starry Smoothound is completely harmless.

The footage of the smoothound shark, which was around three-feet long, was taken by Pippa on her mobile phone.

It was spotted at Sandbanks Beach, Poole, at the end of May.