A robotic baby seal is bringing love and affection into the confused and often frustrated lives of dementia patients.

Paro has been bought by the University of Brighton to test its effects on patients and so far the seal pup is proving beneficial.

Research into its use is being conducted by Penny Dodds, a nurse lecturer at the university’s school of health sciences.

Dr Dodds is also employed by the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, whose therapists and nurses are using Paro on dementia wards in Worthing.

Paro costs £4,000 and has built-in sensors to react to sound and touch. The artificial intelligence allows it to learn and respond to names patients give it and it reacts to being stroked and spoken to.

The seal wriggles, turns to the patient, opens its big eyes and lets out a squeak.

Dr Dodds said: “It is similar to pet therapy but with real animals and pets there is a hygiene issue and a remote risk of the animal biting or chasing.

“Paro always behaves, has rechargeable batteries, is always available, and will last about 12 years. The most important aspect is the difference Paro makes to a patient’s quality of life.

“We have seen Paro helping relax a patient when they have become upset and distressed.”

Partnership trust clinical psychologist Sally Stapleton said: “We are taking the time to get this right – asking patients and their families how they feel as well as training staff fully in its use.

“Some people may choose not to interact with Paro but others have been fascinated and it has sparked some very interesting conversations.”

Dementia affects about 800,000 people in the UK and numbers are climbing each year.

The experiment is scheduled to be featured in an episode of the BBC Radio 4 consumer affairs programme You and Yours on Monday.