MYSTERY surrounds the discovery of a dead otter in the heart of Torbay.

The body of the protected animal was found near Clennon Valley lakes, Paignton, by dog walkers.

It has been collected by the Environment Agency for a post mortem.

It is not known how the otter died or whether it had been living in Clennon Valley, and now the public is being asked to keep an eye open for otters in Paignton.

Brian and Ann Chudley, of Clennon Park, discovered the body on the verge of the first lake, just above the weir. There were no visible signs of injury.

As otters are a protected species, dead or injured otters should be reported to the Environment Agency.

Agency staff have collected the body for tests.

Brian said: "It could have died of old age, but the agency were very interested in the fact that it had been found in Torbay. They wondered what it could have been feeding on, but we know there are shoals of rudd in the lakes.

"I am hoping that our find will encourage other people to keep an eye open for them."

Devon and Cornwall are among the strongholds for otters in the country, according to Environment Agency surveys.

But Herald Express nature writer Brian Carter said it was unusual for otters to be found in the Bay.

However they could come up the tributaries and streams of rivers like the Dart or Teign and/or follow the coast.

"I am not aware of any otters living in Torbay. They are more likely to be visitors. There are some otters that travel long distances," he said.

"It would be interesting to know why the otter died. There could be various reasons including, of course, old age."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said otters were usually found dead as a result of road collisions. Tunnels have been provided under roads in areas regularly used by otters.

He said: "Sometimes dogs will kill young otters. We recently had a case on the River Tamar of an otter trapped and drowned in an illegal crayfish trap.

"A mother and cub otter also drowned in a trap on the River Yealm and a third otter died after entering an unguarded trap on the De Lank River in Cornwall.

"The bodies are sent to a specialist lab for examinations and we will be looking for things like poisons and toxins."

He said the results may not be available for around a month.

Otters are protected by law. Anyone caught killing them faces a fine of up to £5,000 or up to six months in prison.

Anyone finding a dead otter can call the Environment Agency's free 24-hour hotline on 0800 80 70 60. Arrangements can then be made for it to be collected for a post mortem examination.

Otters are now present on most West Country rivers. They are regularly seen at places like Slapton Ley Nature Reserve, on the River Dart and have even been seen around The Quayside area of Exeter not far from the city centre and near Newton Abbot racecourse on the River Teign. They are most active at dawn and dusk.