An RSPCA centre has appealed to the public for donations of salt to help treat seals that have suffered “horrific” injuries. Supplies of salt, used to help clean and heal wounds, are dwindling at the East Winch Wildlife Centre in Norfolk after a rise in the number of entangled seals requiring treatment.

The centre has been nursing seven grey seals, five of them pups, back to full health after they were found on beaches in Norfolk and Suffolk with litter such as rope and fishing nets around their necks. Evangelos Achilleos, the centre’s manager, said it is “heartbreaking” to see so many entanglements, which are in addition to a further 30 seals already being cared for. “This is a higher number of entangled seals compared to this time last year,” he explained.

“Depending on the size of the seal and the degree of injury caused by the item cutting deep into their skin, it can take many weeks, if not months, for these horrific injuries to heal.

“Seals who are rescued with entanglements are usually exhausted and underweight - our vets have to carefully remove the item and then they require regular salt baths to help heal the wound as well as antibiotics and anti inflammatories.”

The number of seals needing salt baths saw three tonnes used in one weekend alone.

Mr Achilleos said it can cost “thousands of pounds” to nurse just one entangled seal back to full health.

One of the entangled seals has now been returned to the wild but six continue to be treated.

The centre, near King’s Lynn, is warning many of the seals arriving in need of care are pups.

One of them, who was only born this year, was left with what the RSPCA described as a “nasty” infected wound on the back of their neck after getting tangled in netting.

The centre is appealing for salt donations to be made via its Amazon wishlist.