RESCUED from fishing nets and holidaymakers in the Mediterranean, two severely-injured sea creatures are enjoying the safer surroundings of North Yorkshire.

Two loggerhead turtles - named Antiopi and Lefteris - are the new exotic residents at Scarborough Sea Life Centre, flown in two weeks ago from an overcrowded sea turtle hospital in Athens.

They had spent months in the Athens unit run by the Sea Turtle Protection Society.

Mike Salt, general manager of the Sea Life Centre, said: "STPS officials first came to the UK to see our facilities and were more than impressed."

The turtles are now sharing their new convalescent home - a specially-converted ocean tank - with a third refugee, Maximus, a giant green turtle from Blackpool Tower, who was too boisterous for his fellow residents at the Tower aquarium. Since arriving the turtles seem to have adjusted well to their new environment.

"The first week was spent adjusting the lights, temperature and filtration to suit their needs," said Mike.

"Antiopi, the larger of the two, had three fractures to the skull and brain damage. On arrival she would only paddle in shallow water, but now she dives well, showing more natural behaviour."

The centre hopes that in the long-term, Antiopi may go back to Greece.

Unhappily, her companion Lefteris has missing flippers. The injuries were probably caused by fishermen in their native waters, where the turtles also suffer from disturbance by holidaymakers.

Mr Salt said he hoped the new attraction, which opened to the public this week, will increase customer numbers.

"The display is great to look at, but also offers a serious message about endangered species to the public," he added.

Mr Salt set up a petition last year calling for new legislation to protect creatures living in the Mediterranean.

They have collected 35,000 names so far and hope to present it to the European Parliament in May.

Updated: 10:45 Saturday, April 07, 2001