Thepelican recently spotted near Lewes has in fact been in the area for some time.

A couple of months ago he was in residence at a pond in Piddinghoe which is owned by the Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club.

Club officials made inquiries and it turns out he is not an escapee, but one of two truly wild pelicans in the country. Apparently, the other one is in Kent.

It seems he is part of a trend which is seeing increasing numbers of tropical birds migrating here from North Africa.

Is this an indication that global warming is even more serious than at first thought?

-Stuart Bower, Hawkhurst Road, Brighton