The 10-week-old was transported from the North East for expert care at the High Peak otter, owl and wildlife park last Saturday.

Tweed, named after the river he was rescued from, is being hand-reared by Chestnut Centre owners Roger and Carol Heap.

Tweed is the fourth rescued otter cub to be received by the centre in the last six weeks. The Heaps believe atrocious weather conditions are leading to the separation of cubs from their mothers.

Carol said: "At this stage he is still very short-sighted and covered in cub fur.

"He was handed in to a vet in Northumberland, but he wasn't eating or drinking, so they got in touch with us.

"His mother would still be feeding him with milk and some little bits of fish, so we are just in the process of weaning him now."

Tweed will be cared for at the Chestnut Centre for 15 months until he is strong enough to fend for himself; then he will be released into the wild.

Because otters are sociable animals he will be moved to the organisation's New Forest centre where another wild otter cub is being weaned.

Carol said: "A normal sized otter family will include three cubs, so I think Tweed will be a lot happier when he has some company."

Roger and Carol have been working with otters for three decades at their beautiful 40-acre park. They deal with the majority of those rescued in England and Ireland. The centre also houses owls and wildcats.

• For more information call 01298 814099 or go to www.ottersandowls.co.uk