Rescuers have ended their search for a dolphin which had made its home in a busy Dorset harbour.

A team was hoping to lead the 10-year-old bottlenose, named Georges, into French waters.

The search, organised by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), was held up for days - first of all by bad weather, and then by the mysterious disappearance of Georges.

But other animal welfare charities have opposed the operation, saying Georges would be better off in Weymouth.

The dolphin has already been injured by boats

Concerns for Georges have arisen because he is attracted to the noise of boats, and already bears propeller scars.

The WSPA feared increased summer traffic off the Dorset coast would be fatal for him.

The group says he would be better protected in France because of tougher laws surrounding wildlife welfare.

However, the rescue team has not seen him since Tuesday evening.

Ric O'Barry, an animal trainer who led the WSPA operation, said on Thursday: "There is a strong possibility that the dive boats have sabotaged this as they want to keep Georges in the harbour so they can keep on taking tourists to visit him."

Speaking on Friday after the search was called off, Mr O'Barry warned it was vital people did not encourage Georges by trying to swim with him.

"Additionally, Georges' well-documented sexual aggression poses a real threat to the thousands of swimmers who will be descending on Weymouth over the summer."

Dolphin monitoring

But a spokeswoman for the RSPCA said Georges was so attracted to propellers he might find a busy port whichever side of the channel he was on.

Alan Knight of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue said his organisation had been monitoring the dolphin for about five weeks.

"The WSPA have just come in, not listened to what we have said, not looked at any of our reports and just tried to take him over to France."

Despite the row, WSPA's communications director Jonathan Pearce said the saga of Georges might do some good.

"We hope that all this publicity will make people think harder about measures that could be taken over here.

"People need to be aware that this is not just an attraction, this is a wild animal who's in danger."