Giant whale pod off Essex coast herded to deeper water

A pod of whales, spotted swimming near the Essex coast, is being encouraged back out to sea as experts fear they could become trapped by the tides.

The 40-strong group was seen about a mile offshore between Jaywick and Brightlingsea on Tuesday but the area where they have been sheltering, near the Blackwater Estuary, has a number of mud and sand flats, which could lead to the whales becoming trapped when the tide goes out.