Four grey seal pups have been saved by a Shetland animal sanctuary after hurricane strength winds washed them up on a local beach. They were too young to look after themselves, but are now being fattened up before they are released back into the sea.

The four grey seal pups were rescued from Ronas Voe, in Northmavine in Shetland last week.

They are now being cared for by Jan and Pete Bevington who run Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary. The baby seals were blown ashore in ferocious gales soon after they were born - separated from their mother and unable to look after themselves.

It they had not been brought to the sanctuary they would have either starved or had their eyes pecked out by seabirds.

They should be suckling from their mothers but orphaned by the storm Jan is taking up that role.

While they brought the four weakest seals there, many were deemed well enough to look after themselves. Local wildlife Officer Ron Pattison praised the work of the sanctuary as invaluable.

It may be tough on the seal pups to spend Christmas in captivity - but well looked after and fully fattened they will soon be back into the ocean among their own come the new year.