Were walking on the beach when they found something that others thought was a common stone

A couple has stumbled upon a sizable lump of whale vomit on a Lancashire beach that could be worth a staggering £50,000.

Gary and Angela Williams, from Overton, were taking a stroll along Middleton Sands beach near Morecambe Bay when they encountered an unpleasant odor reminiscent of rotting fish. Curious, they followed the smell and discovered the large, foul-smelling ‘rock’. Having read about the significant value of whale vomit, known as ambergris, due to its use in perfume making, they decided to take the lump home.

The couple has since wrapped up the waxy lump, which is roughly the size of a rugby ball, and are currently in negotiations to sell it.

Gary, 48, recounted the surprise of their find, saying, “It was a bit of a shock. It was down a section of the beach where no-one really walks. It smells too bad though. It’s a very distinctive smell, like a cross between squid and farmyard manure.”

According to the Mirror, he further described the lump’s texture: “It feels like a rock-hard rubber ball. Its texture is like wax, like a candle. When you touch it you get wax sticking to your fingers.”

Gary added, “If it is worth a lot of money, it will go a long way towards buying us a static caravan. It would be a dream come true.”

The lump they found weighs 1.57 kg, about half the size of a lump discovered in the same area in 2013, which sold for £120,000. Ambergris, which develops a sweet smell as it ages, is highly prized in the perfume industry. It is believed to help protect sperm whales from sharp or hard objects they might ingest.

Ambergris is made from hardened intestinal slurry from sperm whales and can take years to form, making it extremely rare and valuable.