A warning has been sent out to drone users after a drone user caused a major disturbance to a colony of seals.

The Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust has reported that one of its early morning surveys was disturbed when a drone flew over a site on which around 13 seals were resting.

A researcher described how they and the seals were caught off-guard when the drone, which was reportedly heading offshore, flew overhead and disturbed 11 out of 13 sleeping seals.

This caused the startled animals to stampede over the rocks and into the sea, which can risk gashed bellies and ripped out claws.

On this particular occasion, the drone's whirring sound was described as being carried to the seals by a light offshore breeze, meaning it would have reached them before it became visible.

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This, coupled with the fact that the sea was relatively quiet and did not provide any ambient sound to hide the drone's hum, were key reasons as to why a single drone caused such a disturbance.

In a post on its social media page, a spokesperson for the The Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust said: "Did you get a drone for Christmas?

"Please learn about the law to become a best practice operator.

"Do your CAA test and get your Flyer ID!

"Please avoid flying anywhere near wildlife, especially seals.

"These seals did not return that day and wasted a lot of energy as a result."