An operation to lead a stray dolphin to safety has been put back because of bad weather and rough sea conditions.

Any attempt at encouraging the dolphin out to sea was called off during Tuesday morning as thick cloud and rain failed to clear.

Marine mammal expert Ric O'Barry plans to be towed behind a boat and hopes the dolphin to follow him to the open sea.

The situation in Weymouth, Dorset, will be reviewed on Wednesday but calm sea conditions are essential for the scheme to work.

Former animal trainer Mr O'Barry said: "The journey should take about six to eight hours and it will happen when the weather co-operates, the weather is everything."

The dolphin has been injured by boats

He added: "If he stayed here, it would be a death sentence."

The bottlenose dolphin, known as Georges, has been delighting tourists and locals since arriving in March, but injuries from boat propellers mean he needs to be moved to safety.

Mr O'Barry, the former trainer of TV dolphin Flipper, has been giving details of a rescue mission to return Georges to his home waters off Cherbourg, France.

Mr O'Barry said: "If this dolphin was any other wild animal that was running around in traffic, it would have already been relocated back into the wild or to a sanctuary.

"We are going to try and give Georges safe passage back to his home waters."

While bottlenose dolphins are pack animals, it is well documented for lone males to become almost obsessive in seeking contact with humans.

Further from danger

Mr O'Barry described how this instinct would be used to take Georges to the open sea.

While being gently towed by a boat, Mr O'Barry would keep Georges' attention, gradually taking the dolphin further from the dangers of shore.

Peter Tinsley, a marine specialist from the Dorset Wildlife Trust, felt the animal's situation was difficult and dangerous.

He said: "He has certainly picked up a few knocks and these are probably from boat propellers.

Respect

"Also, some of the people who have been swimming with him haven't treated him with the respect they should.

"You could argue that since it is the dolphin who is approaching people, it's wrong to chase him off.

"But with warmer weather coming and more people swimming, if he stays it is likely to end in tears."

The rescue plan, to be carried out by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), was being unveiled at the Sailor's Return, St Nicholas Street, The Quay, Weymouth, on Monday.