A seal puppy has been saved from drowning after being found buried up to its neck in sand on a beach in Norfolk.

The young mammal was spotted by walker Rachel Rickett beneath the boulders of a sea barrage on Waxham Beach on December 15.

Ms Rickett contacted local charity Friends of Horsey Seals, who rushed to the scene and freed the animal. The puppy was then quickly released back into the sea.

Ms Rickett said: “I truly believed it was trapped too tight to be rescued but the team sprang into life like a well-oiled machine.

“Within minutes of their arrival the seal was free and seemingly no worse off for its experience. Without help, the next high tide would surely drown it.”

She used an app to geolocate the seal before passing on the details to the Friends of Horsey Seals.

Once they rescued it, they allowed it to make its way back to the sea as they were confident it was old enough to survive on its own.

A spokesman from the Friends of Horsey Seals said: “We were shocked to see how deep it was buried. We do our best not to interfere with nature but the sea defences are man-made and pups do get trapped in them. 

“Fortunately we carry a small spade and had to do some digging before we could lift the pup out”.