A baby seal sparked a six-hour rescue attempt when it was washed up on a beach.

Crowds of people came to watch as Thames Coastguards teamed up with the RSPCA to scour four miles of coastal waters in a bid to find the creature, which it was feared was ill or in distress.

The alarm was raised at 8am on Thursday when a passer-by spotted the seal on the beach at Holland-on-sea.

But when the coastguards arrived the pup had drifted back out into the waters and Clacton's beach patrol boat was launched to follow its trail up to Clacton pier.

Vets were put on stand-by and the RSPCA gave advice to ensure the seal was not frightened.

At just after 2pm, as the pup continued to bob in and out to shore, offering just a short glimpse of its head popping out of the sea from time to time, the search was called off.

Rescuers agreed the seal was in good health but perhaps had become agitated by people going up to it on the beach.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Andy Mitchell said: "It's a very young seal, a pup, and there are no problems with it. We have a theory the mother put it on the beach while she was fishing and of course people are curious and frightened it into the sea causing confusion."

Mr Mitchell said: "The coastguard will be keeping an eye on the situation."

A Thames Coastguard spokesman said if the seal was beached again they would try to get it.

Passers-by should not approach the pup and dogs should not be taken near it.

A dinghy comes to the seal's rescue

(Right) Onlookers watch as the rescue effort is mounted

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