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

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

He said: "He appeared to be trying to climb the weir next to the lock, but he wasn't having much success. He disappeared yesterday afternoon, and I thought he must have given up, but he's back today, trying again. 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, but it was still a surprise to hear how far this one had come.

He added: "During the floods of last year, we did hear of a seal being seen near Norton. But this one at Linton would seem to have somehow scaled Naburn lock. Seals can move on land, but the idea of it scaling locks and weirs is pretty strange."

Updated: 14:43 Monday, February 04, 2002