To hear trained Scottish seals speaking, click on the image above

The arrival at St Andrews University of a Havard academic will be followed with great interest by FirstFoot.

Dr. Fitch (for it is he), is a specialist in language evolution and is on a mission to teach seals to speak (no we're not making this up).

His inspiration for the experiment is an American seal called Hoover who entertained visitors at an aquarium in Boston with a range of phrases all delivered in a Massachusetts accent.

Dr. Fitch is recruiting undergraduates to hang out with seals and talk to them in the hope that they pick up human speech patterns.

FirstFoot understands that if the experiment is successful, Dr. Fitch and his colleagues hope to repeat it with Members of the Scottish Parliament.