A NOSEY seal has been interrupting weed cutters on the River Tone this week.

The pirate seal, known affectionately as Tone, was spotted on Tuesday (August 23) hauling itself onto an Environment Agency boat at Creech St Michael.

And he was back again this morning and has also been seen swimming in the water by McDonald's drive through at Hankridge.

Somerset County Gazette:

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "The slippery boat thief returned to the scene of the crime this morning before our crew arrived and launched day two of his one-seal Occupy campaign.

"Staff politely asked it to leave so they could get on with their work.

"We understand from the RSPCA that it's quite unusual for a seal to be in a river."

Somerset County Gazette:

Emma Katriona wrote on Facebook: "We have reported (to the RSPCA) but they can't catch him as he's fine and well. They will only catch him if he's hurt or distressed."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "It's not uncommon to see seals in rivers and, unless the seal is sick, injured or distressed, we would not intervene. "