Otter pays visit to city shopping centre

A RARE sighting of an otter has been made by security staff at an Edinburgh shopping centre.

Staff monitoring CCTV cameras spotted the animal just a couple of hours before shoppers started arriving at Cameron Toll.

Manager Jim Riddell said: "Our security team couldn't believe their eyes when their regular CCTV camera sweep showed an animal rolling about in the grass and water next to the Braid Burn.

"It looked very much like an otter to us, but we decided that an expert opinion was required so we contacted the Wildlife Information Centre who confirmed that it was indeed an otter, engaging in normal otter behaviour of rolling, marking and swimming."

Claire Pannell, the information centre's manager, said: "Otters by their nature are reclusive and shy away from humans, so to see one in the centre of Edinburgh is not just rare but extremely exciting.

"There have been a few sightings of this charismatic mammal in populated areas over recent years that supports the theory that water quality in towns is improving."