Great White shark and friends cleared a beach

Terrified beachgoers in northern Australia fled the water when 12 sharks - including a 15ft Great White - were spotted close to the shore.

It is the same area where two weeks ago surfer Ben Morcom, 31, was bitten on the backside by a shark.

Hawks Nest Beach in New South Wales was closed for several hours till the all-clear was given.
Dad David Collins said: "We panicked because a minute earlier our boys had been splashing around."

A lifeguard said: "You do see more sharks at this time of year because they are chasing bait fish."