Rescued Essex seal pups' joy at first taste of deep water

Once the seal pups are healthy they are allowed outside into the deep water pool

Four rescued seals were unable to hide their joy after they were introduced to deep water for the first time.

The grey seal pups, rescued from different parts of the East coast, are being cared for at South Essex Wildlife Hospital, near Grays.

Until they are healthy and fit enough, they are confined to a shallow pool.

The charity's founder, Sue Schwar, said: "They spent hours racing about and playing before settling down, leaving all of us with a huge smile."

The latest seals to enjoy the rescue centre's deep outdoor pool are just four of the 14 pups currently being cared for.

The seals spent hours playing in the water

The charity's founder said the seals' "joy was completely infectious"

They have to be feeding themselves and be free of any diseases before they are allowed to try the big pool, "so there's a bit of a queue", said Ms Schwar.

The four seals currently enjoying the experience are about five or six months old now, and have been at the centre for much of their young lives.

Posting photographs of them on the hospital's Facebook page, she wrote: "Watching grey seal pups experience deeper water for the first time is a sight that will never get old.

"These four pups have just moved into our large outdoor pool and their joy was completely infectious."

Once their strength is up, they will be ready for release

She told the BBC: "They need time in the pool to build up their strength, so they will be using it for a couple of weeks before they're ready to be released back into the wild."

It can cost the charity up to £5,000 to treat and care for one seal pup.

"They eat a huge quantity of fresh mackerel - and that's very expensive," she added.

They rely on donations, and Ms Schwar described the charity's supporters as "so great".