DAVE, Kent's famous dolphin, is safe and well!

It was feared he had been hurt or had left the area as he was not seen off Sandgate, Seabrook or Hythe for 10 days – but the solitary dolphin has now returned.

He has been living close to the coastline of Shepway for a year and a half.

Dave, who is female, just took a short holiday and was seen off Camber and Bexhill.

He is now thrilling visitors in Sandgate, having moved slightly further along the coast from his favourite spot near a rock groyne in Seabrook.

Jason Carter, of British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said: “There were reports from these areas of a dolphin interacting with people and Dave was positively identified near Rye.

“His behaviour has changed slightly now he is back and he seems to be moving eastwards.

“It is hard to tell what he is going to do next as he is a wild animal, so we can’t predict his behaviour.

“There’s not a lot of research on solitary dolphins, but we do know that as they get older they tend to start moving further.

“Some remain solitary and some go back to pods.”