A stranded beaver has been rescued and is being checked over after being spotted stuck on the beach.

Walkers spotted the helpless rodent early this morning when walking along Western Undercliffe beach in Ramsgate.

Animal rescue groups were called and volunteers from the Kent Wildlife Rescue Service (KWRS) and Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) attended to rescue the furry stray who has since been taken for medical checks.

The beaver is believed to have washed up from the Ham Fen Reserve in Sandwich and has now been taken to Brier House Vets in Broadstairs for check-ups.

Among the volunteers were KWRS' Jez and Sheila Stone who are also members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue and Ben Morris who is an expert on beavers at the Environment Agency.

This is not the first time the freshwater dam-building animal has washed up along Kentish shorelines with a large number of sightings being reported from Thanet beaches in the last couple of months.

Beavers were re-introduced to Kent in 2003 at the Ham Fen Reserve in hopes of restoring the wetlands with the population spreading as far as the River Stour – the first time they were seen on British shores for more than 400 years, according to the Kent Wildlife Trust.

But if they reach the sea it can be dangerous for the creatures.

Wildlife expert Nik Mitchell said: "What's happening is young sub-adult beavers are heading out to find their own territory, they get lost in the River Stour and accidentally find themselves in the sea.

"If not found in time, the beavers die.

"Although it's very sad that some beavers have washed up on our coastline dead, it is pretty normal.

"Wildlife has it hard and it really is survival of the fittest out there."

"Beavers are highly territorial and this is the time of year when animals are moving around to find new home ranges..."

It is not known which colony the beavers arriving on the beaches have come from.

Steve Weeks, from the Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "Beavers are highly territorial and this is the time of year when animals are moving around to find new home ranges.

"When they end up on the coast they may find the combination of trying to find their traditional food supplies and the salt water too much.

"This is not an indication of the overall ability of beavers to survive in Kent, they have been here for a long time and we hope will continue to transform our landscapes, improve water quality and help support our flood defences long into the future."