Take a look at the first seal pup of the season at Blakeney Point in Norfolk

The first seal pup of the season has been born into England’s largest colony of grey seals.

It arrived two weeks earlier than last year, and is expected to be the first of thousands.

Rangers at Blakeney Point in Norfolk have seen the number of pups being born there exponentially grow in recent years.

The first pup was born at the site on the north Norfolk coast in 1988, and by 2001 there were just 25 born - but by 2019 the number had grown to more than 3,000.

Duncan Halpin, ranger for the National Trust on the north Norfolk coast, said: “Our job over the coming weeks is to ensure that the seals remain undisturbed so the females can give birth and the pups can feed in peace to maximise the chances of survival.

“Female grey seals typically live to around 35 years old," he added.

"They have their first pup at about three to five years old. Once they’ve had their first pups, they return to the same place each year to give birth."

There are roughly 400,000 grey seals globally, with around a third in British and Irish waters.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know