A THREE-day-old seal pup found on a beach by servicemen from RAF Coningsby looks set to make a full recovery.

Members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team from RAF Coningsby discovered the abandoned seal pup during their daily sweep of the beaches at RAF Wainfleet.

The common seal was only two or three days old and still had its umbilical cord attached.

The seal, named Saint Barbara (the patron saint of EOD) by the RAF, was taken to Natureland Seal Sanctuary where staff are optimistic it will make a full recovery.

Sgt Greg Baker, who found the seal pup, said: "Before approaching the pup, we made sure the mother was nowhere to be seen, because she wouldn't have taken kindly to us going near her offspring.

"It's unusual for us to find abandoned common seal pups at RAF Wainfleet. We are more likely to find young abandoned Grey seals at RAF Donna Nook."

The seal sanctuary collected the pup from the beach.

Nicky Yeadon, secretary of Natureland Seal Sanctuary in Skegness, said: "The common seal pup is doing well. She is very bright, and we are 90 per cent certain she will make a full recovery.

"This year our naming theme is fish, so we have renamed the pup Minnow.

"The pup was premature, indicated by the presence of her white fluffy coat, which usually moults in the womb.

"Fortunately, due to the quick action of the EOD Team, she was taken to Natureland, which helped with her recovery.

"The sooner we get the seals, the better for their recovery."