A SEAL found itself a long way from home after chasing fish some 50-miles inland and ending up in rural North Yorkshire.

The adult common seal was spotted by Asenby resident Karen Hargreave at Topcliffe Weir near Thirsk, most likely having swum along the River Swale.

Ana Cowie of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Living Seas Centre at Flamborough on the East Yorkshire coast said it was not uncommon for seals to travel along rivers chasing fish.

She said: “It is pretty regular, they just chase the food source and you often find them inland.

“We don’t have statistics or numbers, but we do know it is fairly common.

“If they don’t seem distressed or stranded we would urge people to just leave them, don’t approach them and keep dogs away as they are a wild animal after all.

“They can usually be there for a few days before finding their way back, but they spend a lot of their lives on land so they are usually fine.”

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue volunteers can be called on 01825-765546 if a seal appears injured or stranded.