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.
Clive Grunshaw regains role of Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner
New cocktail bar and restaurant opens its doors in Lancaster
New Lancaster flats development planned for former dental surgery
Lancaster school pupils speak out in campaign to save Lake Windermere from pollution
Morecambe pub overlooking the Bay to reopen under new management
Lancaster dance school 'over the moon' to film for Britain's Got Talent
Visitors to Lancaster and Morecambe district rise by 37% as tourism recovery continues
New exhibitions celebrate local Lancaster industries
Fundraising night of soul music will pay tribute to Morecambe DJ
Woman arrested at Lancaster station after substantial cash discovery
Crews tackle derelict building fire in Morecambe
Polls open to elect next Police and Crime Commissioners for Lancashire and Cumbria
Crowds of up to 50,000 expected for Lancaster Bomber air display in Morecambe after £11,000 boost
Morecambe music venue on track for 'magic break-even figure' just months after closure U-turn
Ensure you have the medication you need ahead of Bank Holiday weekend
'Out of this world' winners announced at Wray Scarecrow Festival
'Absolute star' who helps Lancaster and Morecambe schools and families nominated for award
Ged Brannan quits as Morecambe FC manager to rejoin former club
Set up begins in Lancaster’s Williamson Park ahead of Highest Point
Cast announced for this year's Lancaster 'Play in the Park' Alice in Wonderland
