MYSTERIOUS mermaids have found a watery home entertaining visitors at an aquarium.

Brighton Sea Life Centre has welcomed the creatures, who have been performing underwater displays.

At the weekend, eager crowds queued up outside the centre in Marine Parade to catch a glimpse.

They will be entertaining visitors in the £2.7 million Day and Night exhibit until September.

Shows include interaction with guests through the looking glass windows in the tanks, and interaction with other sea creatures.

Among the ethereal creatures was Jasz Vegas, from Seven Dials, who is Miss Mermaid Sussex.

The 29-year-old is going to compete in the national championships in London, and hopes to represent the UK in Egypt later this year.

Magic

She said: “Mermaids need to be strong swimmers and divers. During shows we go underwater for as long as three minutes.

“I always loved the sea and here I can teach people about conservation and all the sea creatures we have.

“It is an amazing experience for visitors, who can see the magic of life under the sea and what it is really like to be a mermaid.”

Also attending and performing was Miss Mermaid UK 2016 Grace Page, who greeted children underwater.

She said mermaids have to complete intense training and safety before greeting visitors.

Amazed

The centre’s marketing manager Samantha Armstrong said both children and adults were amazed by the displays.

She said: “All the mermaids are free diving qualified and can do extreme breath holds.

“The interest, especially after the release of the Little Mermaid, has been crazy. People need to book in advance to attend as the shows are sold out.

“We have had just as many adults being as excited as the children.”

Meanwhile centre manager Max Leviston said: “It is an incredibly exciting event and we were delighted to welcome these rare and wonderful creatures to our site.

“They will only be in our aquarium for a limited time, so it really can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for visitors to see the mermaids face to face.”

The centre has a Day and Night exhibition, showing deep sea marine life with light displays caused by bio-luminescence.

Mermaid displays will run until September 8.

Visit www.visitsealife.com/brighton to find out more information.