Otters and seals in pumpkin play

The otters have been playing with the pumpkins underwater

Otters and seals at a Dorset sea life centre have been given unusual ways to play as Halloween approaches.

Staff at Weymouth's Sea Life Park have been giving otters pumpkins, which they said the creatures were rolling around their enclosures.

"When we hollowed one out and carved it into a traditional Halloween lantern they even played with it underwater," aquarist Roland Hogben said.

Seals at the centre have also been using the pumpkins as swimming floats.

"We're always looking for new ways to entertain and stimulate our seals, and the pumpkins certainly seem to do the trick," Mr Hogben said.

On Halloween itself, the otters will be given pumpkins filled with meat and vegetables to feed from.