HORDES of Moroccan butterflies have been spotted fluttering in the North Devon countryside.

The Painted Lady butterflies, which are orange and speckled brown, have made a 1,300 mile flight from their birthplace in the Atlas Mountains.

Conservationists believe the butterfly invasion could be the largest seen in this country since the 1960s.

Sylvia Court, of Northam, spotted several of the insects in Westward Ho!

She said: "We were just out walking and we saw several of them fly overhead, almost in formation.

"During the past few days, here in North Devon, we have had the privilege of witnessing a rare and spectacular phenomenon — the arrival of hundreds of these colourful fast flying butterflies crossing our shoreline after an amazing migration from North Africa.

"As they energetically refuelled on the swathes of crimson valerian currently decking our roadside walls and banks, it was difficult to comprehend how such beautiful and fragile creatures could endure such a long and arduous journey across the ocean."

Sylvia added: "Apparently scientists have been predicting an unusually large migration since late winter. The butterflies originate from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where heavy winter rains allowed good germination of the caterpillar food-plants."

Thousands of the butterflies were first spotted on May 21 off Portland Bill in Dorset. In North Devon they have been seen at Braunton, over the sea in Woolacombe, and on Baggy Point in Croyde.

The butterflies were spotted in large numbers in Spain in April and then in France a few weeks later, before hitting the English coastline.

Richard Fox, from Butterfly Conservation, said: "There are literally millions of Painted Lady butterflies arriving right across Britain. This is a spectacular phenomenon."

The Painted Ladies are a welcome visitor, and pose no threat to indigenous British butterflies.