Delighted rowers were treated to the rare pleasure this afternoon - of sharing the river Thames with a dolphin (Thurs).

The marine animal was spotted repeatedly breaching the water just west of Putney Bridge in West London at around midday.

However, conservationists say seeing the dolphin this far up the Thames was a "worrying" sign.

Mike Benson, head of rowing at Barn Elms Boat House, opposite Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium, spied the common dolphin from his office and rushed out on the water to get a closer look.