A stranded porpoise was rescued by lifeboat crews after becoming stuck on Southport beach.
The 5ft mammal was trapped in rolling waves near the Weld Road entrance to the beach and was spotted by a passing woman who waded in and attempted to help.
Crews from Southport Lifeboat and HM Coastguard Southport were then called to help and were able to move the porpoise into deeper water.
They attempted to follow the animal with members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue but were unable to locate it.
Volunteers involved in the rescue said that the porpoise had no obvious sign of injury and, after staying to monitor the scene for several hours, believed that it returned safely to sea.
The animals are regularly spotted off the Sefton coast but do not usually come close to the shore.
