SURVEY work carried out along the East Coast has revealed increasing evidence that otters are heading for the sea in search of food.

The information has been compiled by naturalist Laura Winter, who works as a technician at Malton School, in North Yorkshire.

Her research suggests that most streams and becks which feed into the sea between Scarborough in the south and Saltburn in the North are now being used by the animals.

Ms Winter, who spends much of her summer surveying for otters, mink and water voles, worked on the project to reintroduce otters to the Rivers Derwent and Esk in the early 1990s.

For the past five years she has gathered evidence of the creatures' continuing spread.

Before 1997, the only coastal parts of the area in which otters had been reported were Scalby Beck, in Scarborough, and Whitby harbour.

Since then, further evidence has been found in several others areas, including Sandsend, north of Whitby, and Saltburn.

Both areas are served by freshwater becks, which the otters use to reach the coast.

Ms Winter's research, which has been published by the Mammal Society, suggests the otters are heading for the sea in search of brown trout and eels.

She said: "This study shows that most coastal streams north of Scarborough are being visited by otters and that, at some sites, food is being taken from the sea."

Ms Winter, who has a degree in marine biology from the University of York, added: "I was delighted to find them using coastal areas. It is not typical coastline and I was told by some people that I would not find them, but they are using the streams to reach the coast."