Seal delights crowds of beach goers at Seaham
The hottest weekend of the year so far just got better.
Saturday was another glorious day full of sunshine and people headed to Seaham beach to make the most the heat.
And walks, catch ups with friends and ice cream treats were made all the more better by the unexpected appearance of a jolly fella.
Beach goers at Seaham were in luck as a seal emerged on the coast on Saturday (June 12) and put on a special show.
Pictures taken from a safe distance show the animal popping up from the sea and playing on the beach.
Seals can be spotted regularly on the North East coast, especially during their pupping season in the winter.
According to the National Trust the Farne Islands off the North East coast is home to one of the largest colonies of Atlantic grey seals in England.
In 2019 the number of seal pups born on the islands reached a record high of 2,828 - an increase of 50.7 per cent over the last five years.
Healthy seals can spend a large amount of their time on land to get rest, but injuries and sickness can also cause them to come ashore.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) advise to keep away from the animals and not chase them back into the sea.
Dogs and children should be kept away as well because despite looking cute, seals are wild animals and could defend themselves aggressively if necessary.