Sammy the seal delights drivers after blocking traffic on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula

Drivers passing through Victoria's Mornington Peninsula were treated to a rare sight after a snoozing seal blocked traffic, delighting motorists despite causing delays.

Police were called to direct traffic on Point Nepean Road in Dromana, near Anthony's Nose beach, about 9am after several reports of a live seal sunbathing on the road in the popular coastal area.

Motorists noticed the seal, known by locals as "Sammy", was fast asleep on the left-hand side of the busy roadway.

READ MORE: The man behind One Nation's biggest election test yet

There were delays of up to five minutes as police officers arrived at the scene to direct traffic and help move Sammy to safety.

Lanes were closed in both directions for several hours and motorists were asked to avoid the area, with traffic cones put in place to protect the marine animal.

All lanes were cleared by 1pm as Sammy was moved away from traffic.

Zoos Victoria's Marine Response Unit (MRU) responded to the incident.

READ MORE: 'Take alternative routes': Iran warns ships of sea mines in Strait of Hormuz

READ MORE: PM lands in Singapore on mission to cement fuel supply

Sammy has been safely returned to the water, VicTraffic confirmed.

Seals are a common sight along the Mornington Peninsula, however the MRU warns not to approach as they can be dangerous if they feel threatened.

Sammy is a regular roamer along the tourist region, with locals often spotting the seal on adventures out of the water.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here