Rare wild beaver seen by a spotter on the River Otter

A rare beaver has been caught on camera beside the River Otter, in Ottery St Mary, near Exeter, Devon.

It is believed to be Britain's first wild beaver for 500 years and was spotted chewing on a tree in the middle of the night.

The images were captured by a retired scientist after a string of reported sightings.

Beavers were once native to England but were hunted to extinction during the reign of Henry VIII.