Basking on a private beach, enjoying an endless supply of free coconuts, Robbo could never have envisaged the terrible end he almost suffered.

Just days ago the coconut crab was rescued from a fish market in Tokyo where he was on sale, billed as a delicacy.

Thanks to marine experts in Brighton, Robbo can now fulfil his 30-year life expectancy as one of only four crabs of his kind in the UK.

Brighton's Sea Life Centre curator Peter Jones said: "We rescued Robbo from the dinner plate.

"We managed to save him and just three others from the market in Tokyo where there are no restrictions on the sale of the species.

"This is the first coconut crab to come to Brighton and we are thrilled to be able to offer a home to one of them."

Robbo arrived at the centre off Marine Parade on Tuesday after completing a stint in quarantine in Weymouth.

His three companions are in aquariums in Weymouth, Scarborough and Birmingham.

The coconut crab is usually found in the Pacific and Indian oceans and will eat anything from coconuts to dead mice, using its powerful claws to open cans or punch holes through tough shells.

Unlike other crabs, the species lives on land and will drown if submerged in water.

It will take Robbo between four and eight years to reach maturity when he will grow to the size of a cat.

Mr Jones said: "Robbo is a bit of a giant and with the strength of his claws we had to be extremely careful introducing him to his new home.

"The coconut crab is not classed as endangered but on certain islands numbers have plummeted. As with any animal we keep, we will try to help protect them in the wild either through fund-raising or education programmes."