THOUSANDS of candles were washed up on the Ceredigion coastline over the bank holiday weekend.

Some locals, including Martine Branford and her daughter Molly collected dozens of candles on the tide line between Aberarth and Pengloyn Head south of Aberaeron.

It is believed a ship’s cargo washed overboard in recent storms.

But another resident, Amanada Williams, had a romantic notion.

She said: “Yesterday as I walked along South Beach in Aberystwyth seaglassing I noticed a scattering of candles on the strandline... I collected a few and put them in the bin without a second thought.

“Later on I posted a few pictures to a Facebook page called ‘Lost at Sea’ and it transpired candles were also washing up on other local beaches... notably Aberaeron and Barmouth.

“A friend said an old sailor thought they could be a shipwreck releasing its cargo after many years at the bottom of the sea.

“This morning I collected a carrier bag full of them and admittedly they do look rather old.”