A DOLPHIN spotted in Cumbria turned out to be of the famous variety.

The bottlenose dolphin was seen in the River Eden at Rockliffe and was positively identified as Kevin Costner, a dolphin named for his habit of protecting other female dolphins.

Kevin Costner the dolphin has been known to the Cumbria Whale and Dolphin Watch Group, run by Sea Watch since 1993.

Kendal College Animal Rescue Centre tutor and Regional Coordinator for Sea Watch Sarah Neill said: "We have had a bottlenose dolphin sighting near Rockcliffe that we have positively identified as 'Kevin Costner'.

"He was given that name due to his habit of regularly acting as a “bodyguard” for females and their calves.

The most familiar of the dolphins and the most likely to be seen from British shores, bottlenose dolphins are highly sociable and are often spotted in water near the coast.