Shark spotted off coast of Byron Bay metres from surfers

A four-metre shark has been spotted off the coast of Wategos Beach at Byron Bay, just metres from a group of surfers.

The sighting comes after body boarder Matthew Lee was bitten by a shark at Ballina on the NSW north coast on Thursday, approximately 30 kilometres down the coast.

Another surfer was knocked from his board at Lennox Head on Friday.

Today the shark, believed to be a great white, could be seen creeping closer to the group of surfers at Wategos Beach before moving off.

A junior surfing contest, the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open, is going ahead at Lennox Head after a helicopter patrol gave the all clear earlier this morning.

Mr Lee remains in hospital after suffering critical leg injuries.