Loch Ness Monster spotter films TWO ’20ft Nessies’ as researcher claims hot weather forcing creature to surface

The Loch Ness monster – known affectionately as Nessie – is often described as being a large animal with a long neck and usually with a hump popping out of the water.

Although the first sighting is said to have occurred in 565AD it was only in 1933 that widespread public opinion was sparked.

While scientists dismiss claims that there is some sort of prehistoric monster swimming about in the Scottish Highlands others are convinced of its existence.

Either way though the story of Nessie is now firmly part of Scottish folklore.

Saint Columba

The first reported sighting of a monster is said to have been by the Irish monk St Columba in 565AD. Columba sent a man across the River Ness after stories of a “water beast” had circulated. It’s said that while the man was swimming he was approached by a beast but Columba made the sign of the cross and told the animal to “go no further”.

George Spicer

Modern day interest in the beast was largely sparked by a sighting in July 1933 by George Spicer and his wife when they claimed “a most extraordinary form of animal” crossed the road in front of their car.

Surgeon’s photograph

Perhaps the best-known picture of Nessie is the ‘Surgeon’s photograph’ which was published in April 1934, supposedly showing the animals head and long neck. According to the photographer Robert Kenneth Wilson, he managed to capture the image while he was looking at the lake. The image though was exposed as a huge hoax in the 1999 book, Nessie – the Surgeon’s Photograph Exposed.

Holmes video

Lab technician Gordon Holmes claimed he had managed to film the monster in 2007 which he described as “this jet black thing, about 14 metres (46 ft) long, moving fairly fast in the water.” Both BBC Scotland and STV aired the footage at the time which marine biologist Adrian Shine described as among “the best footage [he had] ever seen.”