An otter has been spotted by shocked staff wandering around a shopping centre in Edinburgh.

Staff monitoring CCTV cameras at Cameron Toll Shopping Centre caught a rare sighting of the mammal in the early hours of the morning - a few hours before the mall opened.

The animal was rolling around the grass just yards from the centre's front door, near to the Braid Burn Watercourse.

Staff, who named the otter Cammy, are now hoping to catch sight of the mammal again after sending their footage to wildlife experts.

Jim Riddell, centre manager at the shopping centre, said: "Our security team couldn't believe their eyes when their regular CCTV camera sweep of the centre showed an animal rolling about in the grass and water next to the Braid Burn Watercourse.

"It looked very much like an otter to us but we decided that an expert opinion was required so we contacted The Wildlife Information Centre who confirmed that it was indeed an otter, engaging in normal otter behaviour of rolling, marking and swimming.

"We haven't seen the otter again since but staff have started calling it Cammy, after Cameron Toll."

Dr Claire Pannell, manager of The Wildlife Information Centre, the biological records centre for the Lothians and the Borders said: "Otters (Lutra lutra) by their nature are reclusive and shy away from humans and so to see one in the centre of Edinburgh is not just rare but extremely exciting.

"There have been a few sightings of this charismatic mammal in populated areas over recent years that supports the theory that water quality in towns is improving and enhancing the habitat."