CHRISTMAS was sealed with a surprise for walkers enjoying a stroll near the Mersey at the weekend.

Appleton woman Alison Milnes was among the residents who spotted the mammal, thought to be a grey seal, grappling with a two foot-long fish near Riverside Retail Park on Saturday afternoon.

She added: "We often walk that way and last week we thought we saw a creature poking his nose out of the water but we couldn't decide whether it was an otter or a seal.

"Then on Saturday we were looking out for it and spotted another couple pointing at it in the water.

"We watched it for a while fighting with a fish and dragging it along through the water.

"You don't expect to see a seal in Warrington or the Mersey so it was nice to see and we'll be keeping our eyes on the river whenever we walk there from now on."

The group watched for around 20 minutes before the animal disappeared under the water.

It was spotted again on Sunday morning by Fairfield and Howley resident Andy Fairnington who joked he is now on 'Seal Watch' in the hope of seeing the animal again.

He added: "I live right on the Mersey and spotted this thing moving in the water and wondered what the hell it was.

"I followed it for about half an hour and realised it was a seal chomping on a huge fish that I think might have been a pike.

"There was a load of seagulls following it in between the Latchford weir and Warrington Rowing Club.

"It was amazing to see and when I put the pictures on Facebook everyone was saying 'Wow where's that?'"

A couple of sightings have also been recorded at the Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve over the past couple of days.

Warrington's seal sightings

  • It is not the first time seals have been spotted in Warrington however as days before Christmas Day 2014, a juvenile grey seal was found in a field near Winwick.

Named Dumbledore by RSPCA staff, he sadly died of pneumonia the following month after being found 20 miles inland on Red bank Farm.

It is thought the lost seal had been spotted swimming underneath Bridge Foot chasing a fish a week earlier.

Warrington Guardian: An adult grey seal being treated at RSPCA East Winch in Norfolk has been named Dumbledore

  • In October 2012 a seal was also spotted basking at Howley Weir thought to be following the first salmon run of the season.

Warrington Guardian:

Picture taken by Barrie Scholes

  • On New Year's Eve in 2011 the animal was spotted on the river bank opposite the Co-op on Knutsford Road, Latchford taking a break after battling against the current with his mum earlier in the day.

Warrington Guardian:

Picture taken by Darren Moston

  • A white and brown speckled seal attracted a large crowd chasing ducks and fish in the duck pond in Woolston Park according to reports in December 2006.
  • And finally in June 2004 a seal disrupted Warrington Anglers' Association's match with the report stating after the sighting it was 'little wonder the fish were not in a feeding mood'.