A six-week-old stranded seal pup has been rescued from a Sheppey beach.

It was found shivering on the pebbles at The Leas, Minster, by a beach cleaner and then looked after by a dog-walker until rescuers arrived to take it to safety.

Watch the seal pup on the beach before it was rescued

Retired building surveyor Bernie Austin, 64, from Parish Road, Minster, had been taking his cockapoo Gus for an early morning walk on Thursday when he stumbled over the seal along with his friend Tony Valentine.

Bernie said: "The beach cleaner had to get on with his job so I agreed to stay with the seal until help arrived.

"It looked as if it had been washed up by the high tide and had got stuck. It was shivering.

"I tried to cover it with a blanket from the car as it was freezing there. But it was still feisty and having none of it. I had to stay well clear of its teeth."

Lorraine St John, who runs the Island-based Kent Wildlife Rescue Service, and volunteer Heather Smith arrived on the scene and collected the seal on behalf of British Divers Marine Life Rescue. But they soon discovered the nearest seal sanctuary in Hastings was full.

So the little orphan is now recovering at Lorraine's home in Victoria Street, Sheerness.

She said: "The seal has a severe lung infection and was shivering uncontrollably when we collected it.

"But it was still feisty. It has now been seen by a vet and is on antibiotics. Unfortunately, all seal sanctuaries in the country seem to be full and unable to take any more animals so we have made a temporary enclosure for it.

"Heather has been to Two Suns, the wet fish shop at Queenborough, for supplies of sardines and sprats so we can feed it."

She added: "The seal is about six-weeks old. It still has some of its pup's down so it looks as if it was separated from its mother in the rough weather."

She said: "I'd like to thank everyone who has helped keep us afloat during the lockdown. It has been a year since we have been able to hold any of our own fundraising events. The community has really stepped up with donations of money, food and old Christmas trees for the animals.

"But it looks like we will soon have to launch a fundraising page for a purpose-built seal enclosure. We are getting more and more call-outs for seals."

Sheppey now has a large colony around its shores. There are also big families along the south east coast stretching to Thanet.

* If you find a seal which looks stranded: don't get too close as they can bite; keep dogs and people away; call British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546 weekdays 9am to 5pm or 07787 433412 out of hours.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest Sheppey news