A surprise visitor washed up on Herne Bay beach on Wednesday.

Passers-by were stopped in their tracks at around noon by a seal sitting on the shingle soaking up the sun.

The creature didn’t appear to be hurt and was fairly close to the waters edge just along from the Kings Hall.

Civil servant Alison Hylands did a double take as she cycled past.

The 44-year-old, who lives in Fleetwood Avenue said: "I’ve never seen a seal so close up before and certainly didn’t expect to come face to face with one on Herne Bay beach.

"He seemed quite alert and didn’t appear to be hurt or distressed.

"He was looking around, but wasn’t in a hurry to move.

"There were a couple of people who had also stopped to have a look, and they were calling the RSPCA to makesure the seal was OK to be left where he was."