A dolphin was spotted swimming close to shore off Eastbourne, sparking fears among animal rescuers that it could come to harm.
They feared the mammal could beach itself as it was only 500 yards out to sea, opposite the five-star Grand Hotel on King Edward Parade.
It was spotted spraying water yesterday afternoon by a woman walker, prompting a phone call to rescue co-ordinator Trevor Weeks, of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue.
He spent more than an hour monitoring the dolphin's movements from the promenade just in case it beached and came to harm.
Mr Weeks said: "The fact it came so close into shore was cause for concern. If it beaches, it could've come to harm so we kept an eye out.
"It is impossible to say whether it was a dolphin or not but we suspect it was. It could have been a minke whale which has been spotted recently off Dover.
"There is a school of dolphins by Beachy Head, towards Brighton, but it's not often they come so close inland.
He urged anyone who spotted a dolphin close to the shore to contact British Divers' Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546.
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