Beaches in Gran Canaria were closed over the weekend after a hammerhead shark swam up to the shoreline and sent bathers fleeing.

The shark, which appeared to be around 7ft long, was filmed on Saturday rapidly approaching the sandy beach of La Melenara, its fin poking above the surface of the water.

As it gets closer it circles and thrashes around the water, alarming bathers who rush to the shore and get out.

However no one was hurt and the shark swiftly retreated to deeper waters, suggesting it had been pursuing a fish or other prey.

The hammerhead is one of several shark species that live in waters around Gran Canaria, but it rarely comes close to the shore.

While it is not known for being aggressive to humans, the sharks, able to grow up to 20ft, can be a formidable sight.

Local police and lifeguards on Gran Canaria were taking no chances, urging all bathers to get out of the water and closed the beach for the rest of Saturday.

The closure was extended to Sunday along with the closure of nearby Salinetas beach after police drones caught the shark again lurking near the coast, according to the local newspaper La Provincia.

The police, the civil protection authority and the company that provides lifesaving services on Telde’s coastline have said they are working to prevent the shark from approaching the coast again by deploying drones and jet ski patrols.

According to local media, the beaches in the area just north of Gran Canaria’s airport were all set to reopen on Monday.