A seal rescued by the RSPCA from Beccles Quay has died after a fish hook was found in its stomach.

The male common seal was spotted by the quayside about 10 miles inland in an underweight, lethargic and disorientated state.

After two attempts at rescue, a team of four RSPCA inspectors succeeded in catching the large mammal last Wednesday so he could be taken to the charity's East Winch Wildlife Centre in Norfolk for care.

He was examined by a vet and an x-ray found there was a large hook in his stomach. He was fed and treated for a few days, but sadly died when he was under anaesthesia having the hook removed.

Alison Charles, manager at East Winch, said: 'It was incredibly sad for us that this seal did not make it. We really did all we could to save him.

'It is not uncommon for seals to venture up rivers away from the sea and they can normally make their own way back, but in this case the seal was clearly unwell and our inspectors did the right thing by bringing him in to be checked over.'

It is not thought the injury was caused by discarded fishing litter, but more likely that the seal was caught accidentally by an angler attempting to catch a fish.