RNLI volunteers had an unusual task when they were on hand to deal with a seal pup that was taking shelter from the strong winds battering the North-East coastline.

The mischievous pup was found keeping warm in one of the shelters along Redcar seafront this morning.

Volunteers managed to keep the young seal calm and safe before handing it over to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue who later released it safely further up the where it would be able to join up with the seal colony that makes its home at Seal Sands, near Billingham.

Dave Cocks, of Redcar RNLI, said: "We were out doing our regular Sunday morning training sessions when one of us spotted the seal sheltering from the weather. The juvenile seal wasn't injured and just seemed to be sheltering from the harsh conditions of the sea - and you couldn't blame it today.

"It was starting to get a bit of attention from people so we covered it with a blanket to help to keep if calm until someone from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue was able to come along and pick it up."