Netting caught round the neck of a female seal pup prompted fast action from four local organisations along a South Hams beach last weekend.

Amanda Keetley was walking her dog along Slapton Sands on Saturday, February 8, when she spotted the frightened creature with green fishing net wrapped round its neck and flippers.

Concerned, the Less Plastic founder called Pete and Andrea Moore who run Forest and Beach, an outdoor education organisation.

The pair soon arrived with towels, gloves, knives and scissors and the group got to work cutting the seal free.

Pete described it "a very sad sight to see".

Four medics were also called in to help.

Amanda said the pup snarled at her as the group tried to help, adding: “I could see the plastic fishing line dig deeper.

One of the medics called in to help was Ali Jones, who runs powerboat school Salcombe Sea N Shore.

She receives multiple calls a week to help seals over the winter months, especially during storms.

When seals require further medical assistance, she ferries them to Cornwall for rehabilitation before they’re released in the wild.

As the seal found on Saturday was a healthy weight, Ali deemed it safe to release her straight back into the wild.

The groups issued a call to action in the hopes creatures can be helped in the future.

Amanda regularly runs beach cleans and hopes people will "urgently" do more to curb plastic pollution as recycling doesn’t go far enough.

If you spot a stranded marine mammal, call the British Divers Marine Life Rescue hotline on 01825 765546.

Read the full story in this week’s paper.