An otter has been rescued from underneath a set of stairs outside a warehouse.

The otter, which experts said appeared dehydrated and lethargic, was spotted by staff at Penzance Harbour, on Wednesday, December 28.

Rescuers managed to get the animal out from under the stairs and into a cage using a towel.

The otter, now named Pirate of Penzance, was rescued by Dan Jarvis, Director of Welfare and Conservation at British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

Dan took the otter to his home in Hayle for the night before taking the animal to the Devon-based UK Wild Otter Trust for rehabilitation.

Dan said he would not usually deal with otter rescues as the organisation usually deals with seals and dolphins.

He said: "I have previous experience with otters in captivity, normally we pass these cases on to the RSPCA.

"The idea of capturing the animal was in conversation with an otter expert in Cornwall, he helped me assess the health on the animal.

"He seemed under the weather, lethargic and wasn't as feisty as expected.

"Otters are normally out in dawn and dusk, not during the daylight which was another concern."

The otter cub will now remain in rehabilitation for a few months before he is released back into the wild as he was found to be a kilo underweight.