An otter has taken up residence near Glasson Dock marina - delighting residents and visitors to the Lancaster village.
Sightings of otters in the wild are notoriously rare, but villagers have seen one running around Glasson since last Thursday.
Jamie Lamb, from The Shop at Glasson Dock, said the otter is believed to be living in a hole in the wall underneath the car park, as there are pawprints in the mud nearby.
"Everyone thinks it's brilliant and people want to come to the Dock to see it," said Jamie.
"I think there have been otters seen in Glasson in the past, but not for many years."
WATCH the Glasson Dock otter running across the village. Video courtesy of Fredrick Lamb and The Shop at Glasson Dock.
The European otter was close to extinction in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s because of pesticides affecting their breeding.
They can now be found in every county in England and Wales, thanks to bans on harmful pesticides, improvements to their habitats and better legal protection, said the RSPCA. But sightings of them in the wild remain very infrequent, as they are secretive creatures by nature.
Otters spend most of their time in rivers, ponds and wetland habitats, and are sometimes seen swimming and hunting at sea.
They are very good at hunting underwater and mostly eat fish, shellfish, crustaceans, as well as some small mammals, amphibians and birds. They can eat up to a kilogram of food each day.
Otters are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. This means it’s an offence to wilfully kill, injure or capture otters, or disturb them in their shelter, except under licence.
Here are more photos of the otter at Glasson.







Morecambe children's nursery announces plans to close during extreme heat
Lancaster MP responds to Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister
Carnforth High School praised as a "caring community" in Ofsted report
Body of man found in Lancaster park
LISTEN and PHOTOS: Armed Forces weekend will return after massive crowds enjoy biggest ever event
Morecambe MP says Sir Keir Starmer "has made right decision" as Prime Minister resigns
Limited edition artwork will raise vital funds for Lancaster community group
Green Heritage Plaque marks first home of Lancaster University
New home revealed for £20m Morecambe West End regeneration scheme
Wooden nests take flight in Lancaster and Morecambe to stop decline of endangered birds
Veterans salute as Armed Forces Day flag raised at start of celebration weekend in Morecambe
Vandals cause delays to aqueduct sinkhole repairs in Lancaster
Extra Care scheme to open in Lancaster
Three people taken to hospital after road traffic collision in Morecambe
Injured police officer speaks of anger after jailed man freed 16 days after sentence
Morecambe woman to brave the shave to help dogs stay with their families
M6 near Lancaster to close for resurfacing
Full line-up for biggest ever Armed Forces weekend in Morecambe
Lancaster District residents thanked for embracing food waste recycling
More gridlocks in Heysham as roundabout resurfacing works 'over-run'

