A POORLY seal pup found stranded on a Dorset beach is on the road to recovery.

Named Daphne by rescuers, the pup was discovered on Swanage beach in a bad way a little over a week ago.

But through the loving care and attention of staff at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Taunton, things are now looking up for Daphne.

She was the first seal of the season for the centre, and was by no means a sight staff were expecting.

A spokesman at RSPCA West Hatch said: “She’s a common seal which for West Hatch isn’t common at all. We usually get grey seals.”

When she came in, Daphne had an infection in her mouth but since her rescue on Thursday, August 18, she has begun eating again.

After she arrived at the centre, she was joined by another common seal pup named Ronda, airlifted from Jersey, who is showing equally strong signs of recovery.

It’s thought that Daphne may well be the little seal pup spotted taking a nap off Portland a few days ago.

The Dorset Wildlife Trust took an interest in Daphne and on its Facebook page said: “We had received a report of a common seal pup at Portland just a few days earlier, so may be the same one.

“Please keep sending your seal sightings in to us as we are already learning a lot about our Dorset seals.”