The advent of smartphones proves that the Loch Ness Monster is a myth, a leading scientist has claimed.

The ubiquity of camera-enabled devices means the creature would have been photographed by now if it existed, according to palaeontologist Dr Darren Naish.

However, the University of Southampton expert on cryptozoology - the pseudoscience of mythical creatures - said the last few years had seen a record low of reported sightings.

The same goes for other “cryptids”, such as the Himalayan Yeti, the Australian Bunyip and American’s Bigfoot.

“Everybody has good phones,” said Dr Naish. “You really would think they'd be more and better photos, but the only things that ever have ever appeared are terribly low resolution little blobs in the distance.

“I would say that the fact that we haven't got any of the evidence that we should have by now - alarm bells are ringing.

“It's all speaking towards the fact that this is a cultural event, a belief system.”