RURAL North Yorkshire may be teeming with wildlife, but it is not often that animals take a trip into our bustling town centres.

However, residents of Whitby have recently been treated to several sightings of young roe deer that have let their curiosity get the better of them and ventured into the town.

Peter Horbury, a photographer from Whitby, captured one young deer one his early morning dog walk today (Thursday, May 7), and previous sightings have also been reported.

Mr Horbury said: “I have heard of one been seen around the town, but this morning I was able to take a few pictures when the streets were still deserted.

“I was coming down Gledhill Drive towards the railway crossing and could see the deer at the marina slipway – then it saw me and my dog and it started to run along the grass and past the marina offices.”

Mr Horbury said he was able to take a couple of pictures before it ran off, and said he thought it could have become separated from a group of deer spotted recently near the town allotments.

He added: “This one was definitely a young deer, it was very small.”

Other recent sightings are believed to be of the same young deer, which was spotted on Whitby New Bridge during the day, causing traffic problems as it ran along the bridge towards the marina.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said: “It’s widely recognised that deer are becoming more widespread and their populations have been on the increase.

“Deer are renowned for being quite secretive, preferring the cover of woodlands, but they are very adaptable, and if in search of food will venture into semi-urban areas.”

Alastair Boston from the Deer Initiative, said: “In certain areas deer are becoming a more frequent sight in urban and rural fringes.

“They might be looking for a new habitat – and this time of year the new bucks are pushing out the old bucks to make their own groups.

“We do find there are more traffic collisions with deer at this time of year too, so that can pose a threat to motorist.”

Mr Boston added that members of the public do not need to do anything if they spot a deer in an urban area though, as long as it is not injured.

“Just leave it alone and let it find its own way. People should embrace it, it is a success story really and they are a lovely animal to watch,” he said.

To see more of Mr Horbury’s urban deer pictures visit http://www.whitbyseaanglers.com/urban-deer.html.