Seal rescuers appeal for funding

Lewes the seal was first spotted by a dog walker

A voluntary organisation which rescues and cares for animals in distress is appealing for more than £1,000 funding towards a course on seal handling.

The East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) is monitoring a seal which swam three miles inland up the River Ouse on Tuesday.

It said more and more of them were being seen along the Sussex coastline.

Four wildlife medics have been invited to visit a seal hospital and two rescue centres in Scotland.

Trevor Weeks from the WRAS said: "This trip will be extremely valuable in helping us gain experience with some of the most experienced seal rescuers in the UK.

"It will help us prepare for dealing with what we could face on beaches in the Kent and Sussex area."

Seal's 'holiday'

The trip would be made with colleagues from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity.

Seals have recently been found and rescued at Newhaven, Hove, Hastings, Seaford and Eastbourne.

The seal being monitored in the River Ouse - named Lewes because of the first town he chose to visit - was still around on Thursday evening, according to Mr Weeks.

He has been going up and down the river between Lewes and Newhaven.

"He's becoming very active so there's a possibility he may disappear off somewhere soon," said Mr Weeks.

"But he's not lost and it seems like he's just found a nice little spot to have a holiday."