Angler Matt Sparks was stunned when he spotted a seal while fishing – 10 miles inland from the sea.

Matt, 36, was fishing for grayling on the River Frome near Wool when the seal suddenly popped its head up. He clicked his fingers at the mammal, which then swam close enough to be touched.

Angling photographer Roy West-wood, 63, was on hand to catch the moment when the common seal emerged from the river.

It is thought the whiskered creature had swum up the river from Poole Harbour in the hunt for food and got lost. Despite being so far from its natural home, the adult seal seemed in good spirits as he splashed about.

It is rare for seals to be found so far inland and for them to be so friendly.

Matt, from East Lulworth, said: “I have spent my entire life fishing on that river and have never seen anything like it. I peered over the bridge to look for a good spot and it popped its head up.

“I went down the bank and clicked my fingers at it like you would a dog.

“It must have thought I had a fish for it and it came over and was close enough for me to touch. It even splashed me with its flipper.

“But within 30 seconds it had shot off down stream. I think it scared all the fish away so it gave me a good excuse for not catching anything!”

Roy said: “I’ve never seen anything like this in 30 years of taking photographs on fisheries around the country. A seal that size will eat a lot of fish and could do some damage to a fishery.”

Mark Oakley, a spokesman for Sea Life Centres, said the fact the seal was so far upstream was evidence of damage to our marine environment.

He said: “The fish and invertebrates that seals generally prey on may have dwindled to such small numbers that some seals are swimming up river in a desperate search for food.”