Seal spotted having a rest on the banks of the Thames near Canary Wharf in London

A seal delighted onlookers after being spotted having a lie-down on a beach opposite Canary Wharf in central London.

The semiaquatic mammals are often seen swimming in the River Thames but rarely make an appearance on land.

But yesterday (Sat) stunned Nick Nomi, 41, spotted one having a rest on the sand of Rotherhithe Beach.

He said the seal, believed to be a harbour seal, seemed more than happy to pose for photos as tourists stopped to take a look.

Nick, a writer from Rotherhithe, South London, said he did call a marine agency first, as he feared the seal had been injured.

But it got back into the water before the experts could arrive - causing them to believe the seal was "just having a rest".

Both grey seals and harbour seals are known to be spotted in the Thames, but it’s a rare occurrence for them to come ashore.