An unusual summer visitor was rescued from the sea by a man in a dinghy.

The scarce arctic tern was found in the Channel off Ovingdean.

The bird was lifted from the sea and taken to Roger and Fleur Musselle at Roger's Wildlife Rescue Service in Woodingdean.

Mr Musselle was able to identify it as an Arctic tern, which nest north of a line from Northumberland to Anglesey and mainly in Scotland and the Arctic but winter 10,000 miles away in Antarctic seas, a twice yearly journey of some 20,000 miles.

The bird which was rescued is suffering from botulism, a problem which often paralyses the birds' nervous system, rendering them incapable of walking, feeding and flying.

Mr Musselle has treated the bird and says it is making a remarkably quick recovery.

It has been eating up to 30 whitebait a day which are fed to it by hand.