Rescued seal pups already outnumber record 2015 total

A sea life sanctuary in West Norfolk says it has already had more rescued seals brought in this year than in the whole of 2015.

So far 52 grey and common seals have been taken to Sea Life Hunstanton - nine more than last year with four and a half months still to go.

The 2015 total was a record number for the centre and it estimates this year's rescue pups have already cost it £28,000 in medication and feed alone.

Kieran Copeland, a seal rescue expert at Hunstanton, said he believed three factors had combined to push the numbers up.

He said the sunshine brought many more people to the beaches, increasing the chances of seal mums being disturbed and abandoning their pups.

The most expensive seal so far has been Bonnie, who needed £6,000 of treatment.

She is now recovering well and has had the wire removed.