A WORCESTERSHIRE MP has waded into the debate on Keith the seal, saying she should be left to find her own way back to the sea naturally.

Concerns have been expressed over the safety of the wayward creature, which has been spotted in Worcester, Upton, Bewdley and- most recently - Shrawley in recent weeks.

The Angling Trust has warned it may try and secure a license to shoot her to protect fish stocks, leading to a petition being set up calling on the Environment Agency to relocate Keith elsewhere.

The petition has more than 3,600 signatures to date but others say Keith is doing absolutely no harm and should be left alone to explore Worcestershire’s waterways and make her own way back to the sea.

We reported yesterday that Lenni Sykes, from Malvern, is calling on people to help her set up a ‘seal watch’ group to ensure Keith comes to no harm.

And Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier has taken to Twitter to have his say, posting: “Local residents are concerned about Keith the Seal's safety. I agree he should NOT be shot, left to find his own way back to sea”

People have also been having their say on our website.

broken6 said: “If they want to "protect fish stocks" get a special licence to get rid of anglers!”

And pudniw_gib said: “Seals used to come up the Severn more than now simply because it was tidal further up, but this does mean it is in its natural habitat and should be left alone.”