A MYSTERY "help" sign that appeared on an Isle of Man beach made from driftwood and tyres has sparked a search by coastguards.

The sign has baffled locals after it appeared at the foot of a 250ft cliff which is only accessible by sea.

5 A mysterious HELP sign appeared on the Isle of Man sparking a search Credit: Douglas Coastguards/Facebook

5 The sign has baffled locals after it appeared at the bottom of a cliff Credit: Douglas Coastguards/Facebook

5 The coastguard and police were called to the scene Credit: Douglas Coastguards/Facebook

5 The cove is only accessible by the sea Credit: Douglas Coastguards/Facebook

A stunned passer-by spotted the help sign, which has been made from driftwood, plastic and tyres, between Keristal and Little Ness in Braddan.

He raised the alarm and the coastguard and police were scrambled, according to the BBC.

A cliff technician was also lowered into the cove to investigate the mystery call for help.

Kevin Scott of the Douglas Coastguard said the cove is only accessible by sea "so it is a mystery as to why or how it is there."

In a statement, he said: "The word HELP was written in six ft high (1.8m) letters made out of tyres, plastic and wood and the walker did the right thing in telling the police."

It comes after a police investigating a creepy SOS sign spotted in the Australian outback said it was made in 2013 by two desperate friends trapped by a hungry crocodile.

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The sign, written in rocks, was spotted by an eagle-eyed pilot flying over the Swift Bay area in Western Australia and sparked a search for a potential castaway.

Authorities found no trace of human activity after a thorough search of the area and the nearest populated site is a camping destination Mitchell Plateau – hundreds of miles away.

5 Police were called after the alarm was raised by a stunned passer-by Credit: Douglas Coastguards/Facebook

Two men were sailing a yacht in the Kimberley region and used an inflatable dinghy to go ashore in Swift Bay - but were confronted by a man-eating crocodile.

The killer croc cut off their route back to the yacht and forced the pair to built a rock shelter and source water and food as they tried to get help.