Angler Brian Smeeton had a surprise catch when he landed a lively octopus off Southend Pier.

The lesser octopus is now being cared for at Sealife Adventure and will be on show to the public in a couple of weeks.

The creatures, with their eight tentacles, although not rare in the Thames, are not usually seen so close to shore.

Curator of Sealife Adventure David Knapp said: “The octopus was caught from the pier, and it is unusual to find one quite so close to shore. Having said that, the pier is an ideal habitat with a lot of wreckage, cover and food with lots of crabs which are their primary source of food.

“Octopi feed using sight and touch and having clear water is essential for their survival so it shows how much the Thames has cleaned up.

“The angler was fishing for bass and brought it in. He said it was going all over the place and was a sprightly little thing.”

He described the octopus as being the size of a mango with its tentacles reaching eight to ten inches long.

It will spend some time in the nursery while it heals from the nick of the fishing hook and will then be kept with starfish.