Mystery after seal found in the middle of a field 20 miles from nearest coastline

A seal was found in the middle of a field in Merseyside. The sea mammal was discovered in a "distressed state" by a dog walker on Monday, close to Newton Brook near Newton-le-Willows, by a startled member of the public. It is unclear how the seal got to the field but it was found about 20 miles from the nearest coastline.

Experts believe the grey juvenile seal may have swam from a colony in Hilbre Island, in the Dee Estuary, and got lost. Farm owner Gary Watkinson said: “It’s quite unusual. We just saw it lying there this morning.” A woman who lives nearby said she saw the seal when she opened her curtains and assumed it was a pony which had collapsed. She said: “I thought it must have been hurt. The poor thing must be so scared.”

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A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “A report came in from dog walker at 9.39am of the animal on a farmers’ field in Newton-le-Willows. It’s within a field that’s fenced. A wildlife officer is en route - we need to work out who it belongs to, and how it got there. There’s no danger to the public, we just want to ensure the animal’s welfare.”

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In a later statement, Merseyside police said: “Police and fire officers, with the help of a local farmer have herded the seal on to a RSPCA trailer. Its condition is described as being exhausted and has now been taken to the RSPCA’s wildlife hospital in Stapeley Grange, Nantwich, for assessment.