Stephen Savage, Sussex county recorder for sea mammals, is currently taking part in a project to tag seals and contacted us with more information about the sighting.

"It was great to see the common seal picture in the Shoreham Herald, as it highlights the presence of these beautiful animals locally and people will know to keep an eye out for them," said Mr Savage.

He explained seals were quite at home in estuaries and had been known to swim several miles inland.

He said he had received seal sightings in the rivers Arun, Adur and Ouse every year.

"While common seals are present off our coast in small numbers for most of the year, they are more frequently observed locally in the winter months," he said.

"It is quite possible that there are only one or two seals that travel up river and the seal pictured in last week's Herald looks like it may be the same seal we observed in the River Ouse in January last year."

Mr Savage said there had been three other reports of seals in October – one in the River Arun, one in the River Ouse and one outside Brighton Marina.

Individual seals can be recognised by a spotted pattern on their fur unique to each animal, but their numbers are in decline.

Anyone who spots a seal can email stevep.savage@ntlworld.com or call 07773 610036.

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