IT looked more like a scene from a beach in the Caribbean than Bournemouth.

Visitors to Bournemouth beach on Bank Holiday Monday were greeted by the sight of 200 hawksbill turtles scattered across the sands looking as if they had just crawled out of the sea to lay their eggs.

The turtles were actually life-size cardboard models placed on the beach by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to raise awareness of the impact of the wildlife souvenir trade on endangered turtles and other threatened species.

The realistic creatures also had a poignant message printed on their bellies for those curious enough to pick them up and turn them over.

Fascinated youngsters and families were allowed to take the creatures home at lunchtime when the stunt was over.

Turtles in the wild are most vulnerable to hunters when they come out of the sea to lay eggs.

They are slaughtered and their shells turned into trinkets for tourists.

Each year UK customs officials at airports and ports seize thousands of wildlife items including combs, hair-slides and ornaments made from tortoiseshell, ivory and sharks’ teeth.

Many of these are tourist souvenirs brought back by unwitting tourists, says the IFAW.

A recent survey by the IFAW found that just one in four people knew that items labelled as genuine tortoiseshell are made from the hard shells of sea turtles.

Trade in all wild marine turtles and their parts is banned under international law.

Rosa Argent, spokesperson for the IFAW, said: “We want to raise awareness that turtles are an endangered species.

“When people go on holiday this summer they may see markets and stalls selling tortoise shell items which are made from sea turtles.

“We want people to think twice about what they are bringing back from their holidays.”