A seal pup brought work on a new £36 million coastal protection scheme to a grinding halt at Holland beach.
The yearling was spotted on a sand bank where contractors were due to start their next shift building up a fish tail groyne.
The shift was held back while the pup was collected from its position sitting in the sun and it was put into the back of a vehicle.
Leon Woodrow, Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Nature Conservation Officer , accompanied the seal to a spot far away from the works at the other end of Holland-on-Sea near the sluice gates.
The pup was then gently put back into sea in a safer area of the beach.
Mike Badger, TDC’s Engineering Services Manager , said members of the public had also spotted the seal and had reported it to the project’s visitor information center next to Clacton Sailing Club.
“ A number of people were concerned about its safety but it had already been seen on the sand, ” he said.
“ Along with our contractors VBA Joint Venture Ltd we had the situation under control and called in Leon to help out.
“It was a team effort and we made sure that the seal came to no harm. ”
Nick Turner, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Coast Protection , said that it showed that all those working on the scheme take account of the wildlife around them.
“ The guys got a round of applause and cheers from the crowd that had gathered when they collected up the seal pup, ” he added.
“ Following a short delay it was full steam ahead again with the program of work.”
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Press Release