The Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek is under new ownership after being taken over by a charity in its 60th anniversary year.

In a move welcomed by management and staff, ownership has transferred from leisure company Merlin Entertainments to marine life charity The Sea Life Trust.

General manager Jana Sirova said: "This is brilliant news for the sanctuary and we believe places it in a much stronger position going forwards.

“It allows us to concentrate on what we do best, namely rescue, care for and return to the wild dozens of stranded, sickly and injured seal pups every year.

“Charitable status enables us to retain more of the revenue generated by our visitors and could enable us to attract valuable grants."

The trust has been working closely with the sanctuary for the last three years before taking over full ownership.

Merlin has recently invested in a hospital refurbishment and upgrade of vital life-support systems before handing over the sanctuary, which this year is celebrating 60 years of caring for stranded and injured seals and other sea creatures.

The Sea Life Trust raises more than £300,000 each year for conservation projects worldwide and is one of the UK's fastest growing wildlife charities.

Merlin director Nick Mackenzie said: "We have watched the trust’s rapid growth in reach and impact with real pride, and wanted to make a commitment a help it grow even further. Under the trust’s stewardship the sanctuary, which has been an important part of Merlin’s heritage, will be able to further cement itself as a key pillar of the marine conservation community in Cornwall and beyond.

“Our year-on-year investment means that we have handed over a facility in much better shape than the one we acquired in 1993."

Andy Bool, head of the Sea Life Trust, said that the move represented a huge step forward for the trust and one that both trust and sanctuary teams were tremendously excited by.

“As well as securing the long-term future of the sanctuary it will strengthen the trust’s fundraising capacity, enabling it to invest in more vital local, national and international marine conservation efforts,” he said.

Sanctuary staff will continue to receive many of the benefits they received as Merlin employees.

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary was founded in 1958 in St Agnes, when animal lover Ken Jones rescued an orphaned pup and looked after it in his garden – just 100 yards from the beach.

More casualties followed and with just one small pool Ken managed for many years to care for both seal pups and oiled seabirds.

The move to the 42 acre site at Gweek came in 1975. Facilities now also include three large pools for resident grey seals and retired sea lions, a convalescence pool for rescued pups, underwater viewing observatory, penguin pool and woodland trail leading to an enclosure for a pair of Asian otters.

There are also paddocks for rescued farm animals, a reception building with exhibition centre, offices and staff rooms and a café and gift shop.