An escaped pelican has been spotted swimming on a Kent river in a highly unusual discovery.

The bird - only seen in the UK in captivity or in private collections because it is not a native British species - was seen taking a dip along the River Stour in Ashford yesterday.

Jas Stobbs snapped a picture of the bird which Kent Wildlife Trust has confirmed is indeed a pink-backed pelican and must be an escapee from somewhere.

The species is not a wild species in this country but there are several private collections around the country and a flock at Wingham Wildlife Park.

Bosses at the zoo near Canterbury have confirmed all its pelicans are accounted for.

St James’s Park in London, which is managed by The Royal Parks charity, also has a group and another possible theory suggested the animal could have travelled to Kent.

But a spokesman confirmed the bird is not one from the flock in the capital.

Miss Stobbs told KentOnline: “I saw it at about 2pm near the rugby club.

“I thought it was a swan at first when I was walking along which is cool enough, then realised the size of its beak and had no idea what it was.

“I’ve never seen one before so it was very surreal to see it in Ashford.”

The pink-backed pelican migrates great distances but spends most of its time in swamps and shallow lakes in Africa and Southern Arabia.

They used to breed regularly in Madagascar but all populations from there are now extinct.

They can live for up to 30 years and have an impressive eight-foot wingspan.