FEARS are growing for the future of the region's seal population after a killer virus returned to English shores.

There is no known cure for the phocine distemper virus (PDV), which can kill a healthy seal within a matter of days.

The alarm was raised yesterday when tests carried out by vets on five dead seals found off the coast of Lincolnshire and East Anglia showed they had PDV.

Wildlife workers are scanning the coast for fears the epidemic could spread further north.

The Sea Life Centre in Scarborough has already been earmarked as an emergency hospital, if the virus reaches the region.

Lindsey Crawford, one of the centre's seal experts, said: "It is early days yet, but we are planning ahead.

"We are hoping to move our resident seals to a safe haven until this is all cleared up, to avoid contamination.

"Once that is done, we can get out there and rescue the sick ones."

Conservation workers are on red alert to try to protect the colony at Seal Sands in the Tees Estuary.

The group of about 70 is the northern-most breeding colony of Common Harbour Seals in England and is the only site in the world where seals have returned to repopulate what was an industrial area.

Ken Smith, an ecologist with the Tees Seal Research Programme, said: "We are keeping vigilant for any seal that is washed ashore."

He said the site could escape the epidemic because of its location.

"They are very isolated and don't mix with other seals, unlike colonies further south," he said.

The highly infectious virus which is similar to dog distemper, cannot be treated and spreads quickly. It attacks the seals' immune system leaving them susceptible to infections such as pneumonia and respiratory problems.

Scientists believe its swift spread may be down to the migratory behaviour of harbour seals, which can travel hundreds of miles in days.

A similar outbreak in 1988 wiped out 18,000 - half of the seal population in northern Europe - including 3,000 in Britain and about 60 seals in the North-East.

About 20 seals have been quarantined at a centre in Norfolk.

Anyone who finds a sick seal is urged not to touch it and call a national helpline number 087 1244 7999 set up as part of a £250,000 Government project to find out more about the virus.

The number is 087 1244 7999.