MAYBE it was the sparkling blue water that proved so enticing.

Maybe he was attracted by the excited sounds made by a group of Hampshire Scouts as they manoeuvred their canoes in the picturesque river.

Or maybe he just wanted to congratulate the bride-to-be on her impending marriage. Whatever the reason for his mysterious appearance, a playful seal is the talk of Hamble after swimming with a villager and her future husband.

Caroline Berry and fiance John Woodfield, who are due to marry in three weeks, rowed out to greet the aquatic attraction shortly after he surfaced near their home.

Spectators watched from the banks of Badnam Creek, near the Mercury Marina, as the couple enjoyed a close encounter with the curious creature.

Caroline, 43, said: "I think he may have been interested in a group of 15 Scouts who were paddling their canoes in the river.

"As soon as we realised what was happening we rowed out in a boat and started to take photographs.

"John's the brave one and decided to get in the water. He and the seal swam together for about 15 minutes, during which the seal touched his toes with its nose and nudged him on the bottom.

"After a while we swapped over and I got in the water while John took pictures, together with a chap from the marina.

"The seal was very playful and often followed us, but tended to swim away if we got too close.

"Eventually John had to go to work and we returned home, but I grabbed a wetsuit and went in for a second time.

Local boatbuilder Biff Allen said: "He did very well to swim up the River Hamble, which must have one of the biggest concentrations of boats in the south."

John Wharmby, operations manager at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Southsea, said it was unusual to find a seal so far from the sea.

However, he was less surprised to hear that the mammal had mingled with swimmers and canoeists.

"They're very playful and curious creatures that like to know what's going on," said Mr Wharmby.