EVIDENCE of a colony of rare seahorses living in the Thames off Greenwich has been discovered.
It is the first time the creatures - discovered in the river behind the Old Royal Naval College - have been found so far up the river.
The short-snouted seahorse can grow up to around 15cm and is relatively rare in the UK, mainly found on the south coast. 
Environment Agency fisheries officer Emma Barton said: “The seahorse we found was only 5cm long - a juvenile - suggesting that they may be breeding nearby.
“This is a really good sign that seahorse populations are not only increasing, but spreading to locations where they haven’t been seen before.
“We routinely survey the Thames at this time of year and this is a really exciting discovery.
“We hope that further improvements to water quality and habitat in the Thames will encourage more of these rare species to take up residence in the river."
Seahorses are one of the few animals that mate for life after elaborate courtship rituals.
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