Fisherman’s close encounter with an eel-eating otter

A RARE otter has been spotted feeding at the mouth of the River Axe.

Fisherman Stephen Rodgers was amazed to see the animal diving for eels when he was leaving Axmouth harbour on Wednesday.

“He kept diving down and coming up with one in his mouth,” he said. “He was just under the bridge, pretty much at the mouth of the river.

“It is the first I have ever seen in the wild. I have heard the population is increasing but I have never seen one in the River Axe and it is especially unusual to find one this far down.

“It is good for the area – a sign the water is very clean – and hopefully will attract people to come and look and spend some money in the shops!”

Mr Rodgers, who runs the Harbour Road fresh fish shop – Just Fish (|Fishermen and Fishmongers) – catches most of his own produce aboard his boat The Holly Jo.