Earlier this week, the Packet reported on a 'mysterious unknown object' that had washed ashore on Castle Beach in Falmouth and captured the imaginations of those who read the story.

Now, our readers have been in touch and are sharing their theories on what this mystery object could be.

Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team attended Castle Beach in Falmouth on Monday after reports of a 'mysterious unknown object' having washed ashore.

After their initial investigation, Falmouth Coastguard's team members removed the object to a safe place for collection by the local authorities.

So, what do our readers think it was?

Falmouth Packet: The mystery object washed ashore on Castle Beach in FalmouthThe mystery object washed ashore on Castle Beach in Falmouth (Image: Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team)

Mark Tilley, who emailed in to share his thoughts, said: "I would suggest it is an ‘old’ cabin trunk filled with linen, as you can see the folds clearly in one picture.

"Obviously it floated, so might have been dislodged from a shipwreck in the storm."

Jeff Sherborne, another reader who emailed in, suggested: "It is hard to work out exactly what it is as there is no detail of what form the material takes, solid, rock-like or pliable, but it looks like it could be a remnant of old whaling, part of a sperm whales brain, the sharp edges suggesting it was block cut.

"It might be from modern sources, but maybe would be from melting ice nearer the poles that has released its contents after being fixed and frozen there in the past from old whaling activities.

"A symptom of global warming releasing things that storms and currents have moved south."

Falmouth Packet: Some readers think the object could be ambergris - a waxy substance produced by sperm whalesSome readers think the object could be ambergris - a waxy substance produced by sperm whales (Image: Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team)

Lindsey Cox and Paul Adams both emailed in with the same idea, suggesting it could be ambergris - a waxy substance that is produced in the digestive system of sperm whales.

Fiona Cambell emailed in to suggest that the object was "possibly some old whale meat/blubber that fell from a ship in a previous century?"

On Facebook, Robin Markland commented: "It's a Bale of rubber.

"They are shipped around the world from south America and Asia and sometimes wash up after autumn/winter storms.

"Impossible to age from the pic but could even easily be more than 50 years old.

"Apparently there are some still floating around which were lost by a destroyed German U-boat!

"Always fascinating to see what washes up."

Falmouth Packet: Disappointingly, there is no evidence to suggest the object is extra-terrestrial Disappointingly, there is no evidence to suggest the object is extra-terrestrial (Image: Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team)

Disappointingly, there is no evidence to suggest the object is extra-terrestrial in origin.

Responding to The Packet's request for more information, a spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: "HM Coastguard was made aware of an unidentified object on Castle Beach, Falmouth, on November 21.

"The Coastguard was called just before 1pm, and a Coastguard Rescue Team from Falmouth was sent to the scene to locate the object.

"The item was identified as a large item of rotting organic material. It was marked and the council was informed to arrange a disposal."