A number of sick and injured seals from Norfolk, which were orphaned following the recent floods are set to be transferred to the RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich.

Six seals have been taken to the centre in a bid to help ease the pressure on the East Winch Wildlife Centre which is currently full to capacity after taking in dozens of orphaned seals.

The Norfolk wildlife centre is full to capacity with more than a 100 seals – with many still less than three weeks old.

Staff and volunteers have now begun the mammoth task of rehabilitating the orphaned grey seal pups, which were rescued by RSPCA inspectors with the aim of returning them to the wild.

Rehabilitation of the pups could take up to five months, after they were separated from their mothers by last week’s tidal surge on the Norfolk coast.

In a bid to help ease the pressure on the Norfolk centre six seals were transferred on Tuesday 10 December to Stapeley Grange.

Lee Stewart, centre manager said: “Our colleagues at East Winch are doing an amazing job under enormous pressure, but they can only do so much.

“We of course wanted to help in any way we could so agreed to take half a dozen sick pups with the hope we can also take some more in the future. It’s the tip of the iceberg – but it all helps. We hope to be able to help some more as and when we have the available staff.”

“The flooding resulted in one of the biggest seal rescue projects the RSPCA has ever seen and everyone is working round the clock to help these little fellas.

“If it wasn’t for the work of the RSPCA then who knows what would have happened to these poor pups.”

The flooding has happened at one of the worst times for seals because it is at the height of the grey seal pupping season – which means most of the seals should still be dependent on their mother’s milk.

With so many seals coming in to the RSPCA appeals have been launched to support the East Winch Wildlife Centre which is caring for most of them. It costs £22 a week to feed each seal.

But you can also donate locally to Stapeley - to donate and help us with the seals, please text SEAL02 followed by how much you would like to donate to 70070 now. Texts cost your chosen amount + standard network rate.'

'To donate £3 and help us with the seals, please text SEAL02 £3 to 70070 now. Texts cost £3 + standard network rate.'

The above '£3' can be changed to the following amounts: £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10.

Anyone wishing to donate via phone to East Winch should call the 24 Hour Donation Line on 0300 123 8181 Anyone wishing to give online, can do so at http://choices.rspca.org.uk/seal-appeal