Otter tucks into hotel fish

AN UNLIKELY guest called into a hotel near Axbridge to tuck into a night time feast of goldfish. A plucky otter was snapped brazenly tucking into The Webbington Hotel s treasured pond life and did not bat an eyelid when staff came out to investigate.

AN UNLIKELY guest called into a hotel near Axbridge to tuck into a night time feast of goldfish.

A plucky otter was snapped brazenly tucking into The Webbington Hotel's treasured pond life and did not bat an eyelid when staff came out to investigate.

The invading otter, named Webby, munched his way through the landscaped pond's entire stock of goldfish during his feast at the front of the hotel last week.

Hotel spokesman Alex Timms said: "The night time duty manager Andy Skinner heard a crunching noise coming from outside and first thought it might be the sound of a car on the gravel.

"It took everybody by surprise and they were even more shocked when our chef, Jozef Miklos, started taking pictures and the otter didn't run away."

Staff members were concerned when he didn't try to escape so they phoned Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill.

The adolescent hotel guest has now checked out of The Webbington and is staying at Secret World with a new friend Torrent, an otter who doesn't like water.

Alex added: "We have been told Webby is enjoying playing with his new friend. They are both boys and get along well.

"But it is a shame about the fish. They were a much loved addition in the hotel and in that respect the story is a real tragedy.

"We usually expect to have to protect them from large birds, not otters.