Beach-goers were left puzzled after discovering a strange-looking fanged mammal at a seafront.

The mysterious creature was found by a couple walking near the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Deal on Sunday.

The daughter of the couple shared a picture of the post on a local social media group to help identify the unusual find.

One person said: "Vampire deer?"

Another user posted: "I've dated worse."

While someone else said: "The mother-in-law. A bit long in the tooth. I wasn't there. I know nothing about it. You've got nothing on me, I'm innocent."

But many commenters were quick to identify the animal.

One user said: "Chinese water dear and there is not many about. Can they find it again? I would love it in my collection."

Another person agreed, and wrote: "I would say it's a Chinese water deer due to size of tusks - and most likely a male.

"I'm not sure where it would have emanated from though."

Chinese water deer are easily spotted by their huge canine tusks which are displayed by stags.

Wildlife expert Nik Mitchell, who is part of Wildlife Conservation in Thanet, confirmed it is a Chinese water deer.

"They are mostly found in the Wetlands of Norfolk but they do appear in Kent now and again," he said.

"They are non-native but I believe some escaped and they ended up naturalising in the UK.

"It will probably remain a mystery where its come from and how it got to Deal.

"It must have been carried in the sea currents a long way to end up there.

"They are very rarely sighted in Kent they simply don't have the habitat and hiding places here."

The Kent Wildlife Trust's website says the unusual deer is not a native UK species, having been introduced from China in the 19th century.

"Chinese water deer are a ginger/brown colour and lack the white rump seen in other species," it says.

"They are larger than a muntjac but slightly smaller than a roe deer. Their large fluffy ears and small black nose give them a teddy bear like appearance.

"The males possess some rather threatening looking tusks in place of canine teeth, which are used for displaying and rutting with other males in the breeding season."

It has informally been named vampire deer in English-speaking areas to which the animals have been imported.