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A video of two otters in the River Thaw by Filco in Cowbridge town centre was seen by hundreds yesterday.

Cowbridge Nub News shared the recording, originally taken by Charlotte Ballantyne, with readers saying it was "awesome" and an "amazing spectacle" to see the otters in the river.

Nub News spoke to local wildlife photographer and enthusiast Oscar Wainwright to find out more about why these otters came so close into town.

"It's very interesting as it's not often the otters will go right through the town centre, especially in the daytime, as they are nocturnal" said Oscar.

"I'm quite certain it's a mother and pup, which you can see are struggling to make it up the river with the fast-flowing current.

"Often otters will travel up the bank in these circumstances but in this instance that's obviously not possible.

"It's not something I think many people think about but the high levels of rainfall we have at this time of year can be quite detrimental to the otters as it makes it harder to hunt and find food, especially when supporting young as this one is.

"I have seen an otter there before, quite a while ago now and only very briefly. I know others have too, and it makes you wonder how many they are and if these are the same ones.

"They are very territorial, especially on smaller rivers their territories can be even longer.

"It's a tricky one but I'd estimate the pup is between seven and eight months old. At a year old it'll become independent," he said.

Eurasian otters usually grow to between 57 and 95 cm long, not counting a tail of 35–45 cm, with the females being shorter than males.

Voracious eaters, otters eat up to one kilogram of fish every day. This species' average body weight is seven to 12kg, although occasionally a large old male may reach up to 17kg.

The Eurasian otter's diet mainly consists of fish, which is their preferences in temperate freshwater habitats.

During the winter and in colder environments, though, fish consumption is significantly lower, and otters rely on other sources of food, including amphibians, crustaceans, insects, birds and sometimes small mammals.

Once hunted for their fur, otters are now a protected species under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside protection act of 1981.

The UK Wild Otters Trust says that in recent years the otter has "encountered new and varied threats, including habitat destruction (road building, new urban development), persecution by fishery owners and gamekeepers (as they are seen as a threat to fish and game birds – which is untrue), and if near the sea, injury and capture in fishing nets.

"Changes in traditional farming methods also play a part in threatening the otter via the increasing use of pesticides. A recent report by Cardiff University (2013) noted that pesticides and pollutants may also be affecting the otter's reproductive system."

Previously Oscar placed a trail of cameras around the River Thaw, and captured incredible footage of otters.

"At the moment I don't have any cameras out but when I am using them I leave them out for a couple of weeks in a suitable spot to see what's around," said Oscar.

"I've filmed some really interesting wildlife with the cameras just in Llandough and further down the Thaw Valley."

See more of Oscar's work HERE .