Four sea turtles have been returned to the Mediterranean after a long stay in a rehabilitation centre in Israel.

The two loggerheads and two green sea turtles attracted a large crowd as they were released back into their natural environment on Thursday.

Among the group was Meirav, a loggerhead who had to be rescued in the winter after swallowing a fishing line.

She was named after the woman who found her, Meirav Edri who said: "We saw a big sea turtle laying in the sand trying to move and the waves just kept pulling her over and over."

Meirav was followed into the water by Yossi the Fisherman, a green turtle also named after his rescuer, who was found caught in fishing nets.

Around 50 sea turtles have to be rescued in Israel every year, most have been injured by boats, propellers, jet skis, fishing lines and hooks.