WILDLIFE experts have been left baffled by the behaviour of an adventurous seal, which has battled its way up the River Ouse into the heart of North Yorkshire.

The seal has made its home near the beauty spot of Linton Lock, at Linton-on-Ouse, where it has been frolicking for the last three days.

Ian Fuller, proprietor of Linton Lock Leisureways, was amazed when he first saw the seal in the river outside his pub, at the weekend.

He said: "He appeared to be trying to climb the weir next to the lock, but he wasn't having much success. He disappears at dusk, but he's always about, bright and early in the mornings."

The seal was still there earlier today, happily playing about in the high waters of the Ouse.

Ian said: "I imagine he's come all the way up from the Humber, and that's something."

Robert Masheder, spokesman for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said it was "not incredibly uncommon" for seals to come a long way inland.

He said: "During the floods of last year on the Derwent, we did hear of a seal being seen near Norton. But this one at Linton would seem to have somehow scaled Naburn lock, which is quite amazing."

Mr Masheder said seals could survive in freshwater environments, provided they had a good source of food. "It seems likely that it would eventually turn around and go back to the Humber of its own volition."

An RSPCA inspector visited the lock yesterday, but concluded that the seal was not in distress.

Updated: 11:25 Tuesday, February 05, 2002