In a scene reminiscent of the film classic Jaws, a shark's fin menacingly stalks the shoreline as startled holidaymakers look on.

And just like one memorable scene in the 1970s scare movie where two boys don a shark fin to terrify the locals, the spectacle also turns out to be a hoax.

Two recent reports of a man-eating oceanic whitetip circling a mile off the popular St Ives holiday hotspot in West Cornwall, has sparked a flurry of imposters.

Tourists and locals alike enjoyed the scene on Sunday as a family of surfing enthusiasts dressed up as the feared oceanic whitetip shark in a fancy dress competition.

The man behind the fishy disguises was Martyn Tarplee who persuaded his son Jack, brother Andrew and niece Lalage Pilcher to take part in the fun as part of the International Surfing Day celebrations at Porthmeor beach.

Martyn, who owns the family-run Robie Robes surf wear company in the town, said he was delighted the family effort had scooped first prize.

He said: "The story of the whitetip spotted off the St Ives coast went absolutely global – the media went totally mad and everyone was talking about it. I honestly thought everyone would be dressing up as sharks and was amazed it was only us four who did."

The shark suits were made with polystyrene cut-outs for the fins that were painted grey and white with water-based emulsion before being attached to T-shirts.

A colourful dab of face-paint finished off the look complete with snarling shark's teeth.

Martyn said the outfits caused a stir on the packed beach.

He said: "Everyone on the beach went mad when they saw us striding along the sand and when we got in the water we got lots of attention.

"Because the outfits were so light it was really easy to surf and swim no problem.

"We were like proper sharks out there in the ocean."

Earlier this month the WMN broke the exclusive story of the oceanic whitetip in Westcountry waters after two fisherman on board two separate mackerel fishing boats reported seeing the creature around a mile off the coast of St Ives.

Oceanic whitetips are considered to be the most dangerous predator of their species.

Experts are investigating the claim by the two fishermen who described the 6-7ft-long fish as being an oceanic whitetip – their description corresponded with that of the predator.