A warden at an animal charity has been suspended after mishandling a seal pup.

The suspension came after a video emerged on social media showing the warden, who volunteered with Friends of Horsey Seals (FOHS), drag the animal by its tail before gesturing toward its head with his foot.

The incident happened on December 30 at Horsey.

Peter Ansell, FOHS chairman, said: "It is not Friends of Horsey Seals' policy to handle seals in that manner at all and the warden was duly reprimanded and suspended for the rest of the season.

"It was a foolhardy action which happened on the spur of the moment," he added.

At the time of the incident, the seal was resting on the path to the beach.

Several attempts had been made to move the pup before the warden in question took it by the tail.

Mr Ansell said: "He acted without thought and should have waited for the duty warden to arrive with the proper equipment."