An amateur photographer claims he shot a haunting image of a giant shadowy figure heading across from St Michael's Mount towards land.

The picture by amateur photographer Russell Ahearne was taken at Cornwall's most famous landmark. The ancient castle dates back to a time when giants were rumoured to stalk the land.

But not many people know that a real skeleton of an exceptionally tall 7ft 8in man was dug up during renovation work in the late 19th century.

Now there are often ghostly sightings of a very tall man.

Russell, 44, who lives in nearby Marazion, said: "I was photographing St Michael's Mount yesterday afternoon at sunset and think I managed to capture an image of the ghost of Cormoran the Giant, who lived on St Michael's Mount many years ago, heading to land from the Mount.

"He terrorised the inhabitants and the villagers of Marazion, until he was slayed by a boy called Jack, who then became Jack the Giant killer so the story goes."

Russell admitted with a wink that the edited picture was taken with a very slow exposure: "I regularly photograph St Michael's Mount, it's the most beautiful place, and was delighted when this figure/person came into shot."

Visitors to the castle will also see Cormoran’s heart set in stone among the cobbles on the long climb up the path.

The giant's heart stone on the path up to St Michael's Mount

The Cornwall Guide says: "Once upon a time the Mount sat in a dense forest that spread far and wide. To this day, at low tides the remains of ancient tree stumps are sometimes revealed. In those days it is said that the giant Cormoran and his wife, Cormelian, lived on the mount.

"Cormoran was the bane of the folk in the surrounding lands. He would regularly help himself to whatever he fancied be it a herd of cows or field of crops.

"A young lad named Jack snook over to the mount and dug a giant-sized pit at the bottom of the hillside whilst the giant slept. Jack then blew his horn waking Cormoran who in a rage came thundering down the hill. The giant went headlong into the pit and that was the end of him.

"Whilst there are no tales of St Michael's Mount being haunted by actual giants there have been sightings of a particularly tall man. This seems to relate to an unusual find during renovation work of the chapel on the Mount in the late 19th century. During work on the chapel a small stone doorway was discovered in the south wall. Beyond this was a flight of steps leading to a small hermitage cell within which were laid the bones of a man measuring 7 feet 8 inches."

The most recognisable landmark in Cornwall, St Michael's Mount has a rich history that is rich in both legend and folklore.

Tales from as far back as 495 AD depict how the archangel St Michael would appear above the island to ward fisherman of peril.