People asked to stay away from whale body on beach

The body of a whale has washed up on the Norfolk coast.

It has appeared on the beach at Hemsby after several social media posts in recent days reported sightings in the sea.

The animal, believed to be a minke whale, is approximately 3.6m (12ft) in length.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council, which manages the beach, has urged people to "stay clear" of the animal until it is "removed safely".

A spokesperson said: ''The council is aware a dead whale has been washed in on the tide at Hemsby and is now organising for the removal to be completed as soon as possible."

While minke whales are known to be among the smallest, they can grow to about 10m (35ft) and weigh up to about 9,000kg (1,400 stone).

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The species can usually be spotted in UK waters between July and October and live for up to 50 years.

Whales can come ashore for many reasons, including injury, illness, bad weather and navigational errors leading them into shallow water.

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