A SEAL has been spotted swimming in a York river.

Firefighter Peter Barrett caught a glimpse of the mammal in the River Foss as he arrived for his evening shift at York fire station at about 5.30pm yesterday.

He said: “I could see something swimming from one side of the river to the other and I thought it was a dog or a person, but then I saw its whiskers.

“It was playing around in the water and looked like it was having fun.”

The seal has started to attract a lot of attention, with spectators congregating on Castle Mills Bridge to watch the creature swimming in the Foss Basin.

It is a rare treat to see one swimming in the River Ouse or River Foss, with only a handful of sightings in recent years.

The Environment Agency has been informed of its presence.