The man was found with his haul as he was about to board a ferry from Porto Torres to Nice.

The stones, which were in the boot of the man’s car, were found to have been taken from the beach at Lampianu, near Sassari in northern Sardinia.

The man was sanctioned under a regional law protecting natural heritage and now faces a fine of between 500 and 3000 euros.

Such acts are fairly common in Sardinia each summer.

ANSA