NATURE lovers need help in ensuring that seals get a safe welcome as they come to East Yorkshire this month.

Already Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has reported young common seals arriving at Spurn National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Flamborough and grey seals are also in the area.

It has also helped a very small common seal pub with the help of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

To prevent the seals and other marine life getting tangled up in litter, the trust is calling on volunteers to join in the Great British Beach Clean at Fraisthorpe south of Bridlington between 11am and 1pm and at Flamborough South Landing between 1pm and 3pm on Sunday and the Waves of Waste Beach Clean at Filey on Saturday from 10am to 12pm.

Spurn NNR heritage officer Andrew Mason said: "The grey seals are a delight to watch and do come surprisingly close to the coast so you can see them without the aid of binoculars. Spurn is a great place for these guys to rest without being disturbed."

Seal experts advise anyone who see a seal on the coast not to disturb it or try and persuade it back into the sea as resting on land is normal behaviour for them. Dogs are not allowed on Spurn reserve to protect the seals, birds and other sensitive wildlife.