The seal rescue team at Scarborough Sea Life Centre, which has been caring for an above-average number of animals over the winter, has begun returning them to the wild.

Staff have had their work cut out caring for five extra common seals since early December when they arrived from flood-ravaged Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary.

Displays supervisor Lyndsey Crawford said: “There’s no doubt we’ve been a little bit crowded, and with the common seal breeding season only a couple of months away we are desperate to free-up some space.”

Among those due for release were Farne, who was rescued from the Farne Islands on November 24, and Lundy, who arrived on January 3 from Bridlington.