Seal snoozes, sunbathes and showers on stolen dinghy

Maximus the seal has developed a taste for thievery and one boat trip company has become his daily victim.

At the end of every single day, Maximus commandeers his favourite yellow dinghy and refuses to leave until he has either had enough sun or is gently persuaded off by a hose.

However, Pembrokeshire Islands Boat Trips, in south-west Wales, do not really mind all that much.

"He's our resident seal," said the company's Gareth Reynolds.

"He's got a little bit too used to us now, so it's a daily occurrence," said Gareth.

Maximus has been a regular sight around the company's base in the Pembrokeshire town Neyland for more than a decade.

"The little hose down at the end of the day is something everyone quite looks forward too," added Gareth.

Maximus has to be gently asked to give the dingy back with a water hose

"He likes our yellow dinghy and there's another orange rib, he takes it in turns.

"He's very good entertainment for the passengers when we start off on the trips - you can be a foot away from him and he won't even open his eyes.

"It's good for the videos but a little frustrating when it's a daily thing getting him out when you want to go home."

Gareth said Maximus has started to enjoy the cooling shower he receives daily, to the point where it is not quite as an effective seal-removal method as it used to be.

"We love Maximus really," says Gareth

"You used to just give him a little spray and he'd scarper, but now he thinks it's just his daily shower," he said.

"It's a game of how long do you have to do it before he'd had enough - you've got to get him on the head."

The company runs boat trips off the Pembrokeshire coast, including to the puffin-populated Skomer island.

However, towards the end of summer, when there are less puffins about, Maximus often seals the show.

"The puffins are the big attraction that everyone hears about, but from this time of year onwards they all disappear," said Gareth.

"We're very thankful for Maximus... we love him really, he's part of our team."