A riverside walk threw up a surprise for Helena Gibson when a seal surfaced from the water.
Mrs Gibson, of Valentine Drive, Colchester, spotted the slippery swimmer in the River Colne when she was walking down East Hill on Thursday.
At first, she thought it was a rat but realised it was a seal when it showed its head.
She said: "I was walking home down East Hill and across the river by Mill apartments and looked into the river and said 'Oh my God that looks like a big rat', and it put its head up and I saw the seal's face."
A spokesman for Thames Coastguard said it was not uncommon.
Published Monday October 21, 2002
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