A baby seal was saved after it was found stranded on the beach.

A team from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) was called to the beach at Peacehaven after residents spotted the month-old common seal and they took it to the RSPCA.

The seal was found to suffering from an abscess in its mouth which was preventing it from feeding properly.

It is believed he became separated from a breeding colony at Chichester Harbour.

The poorly pup will be nursed and fattened back to health before being released back into the sea.

Stephen Marsh, operations manager at BDMLR, said: “It was very underweight but it was in very good condition other than that, I’m sure it will be fine.

“It had been there for a couple of days and it didn’t have the strength to swim properly.”

Mr Marsh said the crowded beach was not a good place for the seal and that it would have become a target for dogs.

The pup has now been taken to Mallydams Wood wildlife rehabilitation centre for a few weeks until it receives their seal of approval to return to the wild.

Seals tend to live in areas with sandbanks and are not common in the South East.

But there is a breeding colony in Chichester Harbour and Mr Marsh believes the pup may have come from there.

More and more seals are being sighted in the region due to changing tides and Argus reader Anya Harris sent in the pictures after seeing the seal.

Despite the seal’s cute appearance, members of the public are warned not to touch them if they find any more stranded on the beach.

Mr Marsh added: “I would not advise anyone to try and pick one up unless they’ve had special training.

“The common seal is a more docile species than the grey seal but they will become agitated if they get stressed and they’ve got a nasty set of teeth.”

For more information, visit www.bdmlr.org.uk or call 01825 765546.