It was a dramatic last weekend at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary for senior animal care assistant Clare McGowan.

Bidding farewell after six and a half years at the Sanctuary, Clare marked her departure by helping complete the first pup Rescue of the new grey seal breeding season.

An anxious coast walker spotted a seemingly abandoned pup at Lushington Cove Beach, Porthtowan.

Clare raced to the scene and together with Dave Jarvis from British Divers Marine Life Rescue rescued the two-day-old white coated pup – subsequently christened Paloma.

Paloma, who still had her umbilical chord attached, is now happily settled in the Sanctuary’s hospital where she will receive intensive care until fit enough to move into an outdoor convalescent pool.

“It was nice to be involved in one more |rescue before I go,” said Clare.

“It has been hard work, but a real privilege to help rescue so many abandoned, injured and sickly seal pups over the years,” she added.

Clare has finally succumbed to the lure of a return to her native Lancashire, where she hopes to continue her involvement in caring for animals at the first opportunity.

Her colleagues meanwhile had a second pup rescue later that night, a three-week-old little female named Lulu. The staff are hoping their arrival does not signal a major influx of casualties.