A rare sighting of a dolphin has been reported by a fisherman in the River Orwell.

Jonathan Ames, from Ipswich, was in his boat on the river this weekend when a common dolphin joined him.

The creature was spotted around 500 yards from Woolverstone Marina, not too far from the Orwell Bridge, on Saturday (April 13) at around 11am.

Mr Ames said: "It's a first for me. I was very surprised. I have been boat fishing for more than 20 years and I've never seen a dolphin in the Orwell, or out at sea.

"At first when I saw the fin, I thought it was a porpoise but then saw the sight of it and was told it was a common dolphin.

"I often see porpoises around the harbour and in Felixstowe, but never a dolphin and never one that far up the river."

He reported the dolphin sighting to Sea Watch Foundation and British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which deals with rescuing stranded and injured marine life across the country.

He added: "Apparently it has been spotted again around Haven Marina in Ipswich.

"I don't think it's a good thing for the dolphin, which is unfortunate. They do live in pods so I'm not sure what it's doing alone here."