OTTER pups have been seen in the River Wey, marking a possible return of the mammals to Surrey since their decline in the 1960s.
Sightings were first reported this spring by a fisherman and local resident, and confirmed yesterday by the Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT).
SWT officer Jim Jones said he saw three otters "playing on the river bank in the afternoon sun" on the border between Hampshire and Surrey.
Mr Jones said: "I was astonished to see three of these elusive creatures right in front of me. It is fantastic to have otters back in Surrey."
A spokesman for SWT said the otters appeared to be an adult, probably a female, and two fully grown pups, suggesting they might have bred in the area.
He added: "This could be the first time otters have bred in Surrey since they disappeared in the 1960s."
The otter population declined steeply between the 1950s to 1970s, mainly due to pesticides used in sheep dip.
SWT and others are working to restore the population.
The SWT spokesman added:"Key to the success of the otter recovery is people and everyone has a role to play.
"Landowners can manage their land in an otter-friendly way, while fishermen, canoeists and walkers can be the eyes and ears of the river, looking out for otter signs."
SWT has launched a programme which sees volunteers monitor rivers for bank erosion, pollution levels, and other factors.
