Hartlepool RNLI volunteer crew joined by adorable seal pup while training

As the crew prepared to head out to sea for a training exercise from the Ferry Road boathouse, they were joined by a seal pup that had hauled itself out the water.

The pup enjoyed some Sunday sunshine on a nearby concrete block to watch the action.

Volunteer crewmember Mark Barker said: “The seal pup just lay there watching us getting the boat ready for the exercise and was still there when we returned later that morning.

"We decided to call it 'Snowy' as it had been snowing earlier in the day.

"We see quite a few seal pups around the area and they usually swim off if we get too close but this one was obviously not too bothered about us.

"Despite its cuteness we kept our distance and left the pup to have a rest and soak up the sun before it returned to the sea.”

Support your Mail and become a subscriber today.

Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on Pools and new puzzles every day.

With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Click here to subscribe.