River's celebrity seal put down after being blasted with shotgun

Emma Milne, one of the vets from BBC's Vets In Practice and a marine mammal medic for the BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue) responded to the call.

She said: "This seal has been resident in Naburn for several years and is somewhat of a celebrity among locals and the visitors to the caravan site.

"The seal was very thin and weak and after a few days of seeing him on and off we managed to catch him."

The wild seal was taken to the RSPCA East Winch centre in Norfolk. It was hoped the creature could be diagnosed, treated and returned to the river.

A day later, he was x-rayed and found to have been shot in the head, neck and chest with a shotgun. It is believed the wounds were inflicted about two months ago and the seal had been wasting away since then.

Ms Milne said the seal was one of two thought to be living on the river near Naburn.

n Watch video footage of the seal being rescued from the river, at