A lucky group of seven seals will today be enjoying life back in their natural habitat after being released into the wild from a west Norfolk beach.

Eastern Daily Press: Seven seals rescued by Hunstanton's Sealife Sanctuary, were released back into the wild on the beach at Snettisham. Picture: Ian BurtSeven seals rescued by Hunstanton's Sealife Sanctuary, were released back into the wild on the beach at Snettisham. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2016)

The pups - two common seals called Pacman and Mivvi and five grey seals called Krampus, Tinsel, Donner, Pudding and Noel - were rescued from East Anglian beaches between January 3 and mid-April this year and were nursed back to health at Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary.

They were released from Snettisham last night.

Animal care worker Hollie Stephenson, said: 'We generally release just two or three at a time.

'It's very rare for us to have so many pups well enough to go at the same time.'

All the seals released had lung infections and a variety of minor wounds, with Pudding suffering a severe gash to his upper lip.

But with the help of antibiotics even Pudding, who was found at Salthouse beach in March, made a speedy recovery.

Another common seal and three more grey seals are still recuperating in the rescue hospital and are scheduled for release in the coming months.

The young seals were waved off by two families who were winners of a prize draw, alongside sea life experts who had been caring for the pups since their rescue.