Experts have confirmed that dolphins were spotted in the River Welland near Spalding

Experts have confirmed that three creatures spotted swimming in the River Welland yesterday (Tuesday, March 19) were dolphins.

A lot of debate was sparked locally over whether the three animals seen, near Spalding, by dog walker Madi Corby and her partner Sam Wibberley were dolphins or harbour porpoises.

We have approached the team at Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), a charity dedicated to the protection of these creatures, this morning for identification. And they have confirmed that the animals were dolphins.

Head of communications Danny Groves said: “Our team say it is a dolphin – the fin looks more like a dolphin due to the curve and size.

“They could be following prey, ill or injured or they could be lost.”

Madi, who runs who runs Pawfect Walkies, had been walking on the river bank which runs under the A16 behind Spalding Household Waste and Recycling Centre at around 3pm yesterday when they saw the creatures.

She believed that the creatures were dolphins due to the size of the beak.

The animals were seen for ten minutes before swimming back up towards the sea.

There are around 28 different species of whales and dolphins which are spotted around this country’s coastline.

Bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises are the two species which are regularly seen. A seal was recently spotted at nearby Baston Fen too.

The River Welland has been running at low levels further into town as part of the Environment Agency’s bid to help the flooded Cowbit and Crowland Washes recover after a bank collapsed earlier this year.

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