Updates on Thursday, 4 February 2016
Jill Bennett
BBC Radio Norfolk
I'm standing on the beach between Old Hunstanton and Holme, about 50yds (45m) away from the whale.
It's still alive, and bedded well down into the sand. Coastguards and other agencies are putting water over it, to keep it comfortable and stop its skin from drying out.
From time to time the whale is moving its tail, but the outlook doesn't look good. It's a very sad sight.
Image source, Kate DunbarA cordon has been put in place around the whale that's stranded on Hunstanton beach.
Many thanks to Jacob Morris for sending us this picture.
Image source, Jacob MorrisWest Norfolk Borough Council has tweeted:
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Anyone visiting the scene is asked to be mindful of their own safety.
Jill Bennett
BBC Radio Norfolk
I'm at Hunstanton where a whale has beached.
The Coastguard is here, but is not speaking, along with representatives from Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary, who I'll be talking to shortly.
A cordon has been put in place around a whale that's stranded on the beach at Hunstanton.
Councillor Kate Dunbar is standing nearby, and she's told us that the whale is still "very much alive" and, although it isn't moving, it "is breathing".
Coastguards and staff from Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary are also on the beach, assessing the situation.
Another picture of the stranded whale at Hunstanton, courtesy of the Le Strange Arms.
Image source, Le Strange Arms
Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live
Ben Garrod, an evolutionary biologist, is heading to Hunstanton where a whale has been stranded.
He said: "These are are highly sociable and highly intelligent animals, and it will be very distressed right now... the moment they start beaching their bodies go into shutdown to support their organs and cardiovascular system.
"There's no evidence so far that it's pollution or boat strikes, and there's no parasite load on these things... whales get washed up, it's a very cruel part of nature."
We've just had this picture of the stranded whale sent to us by Robert Smith:
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Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live
A whale stranded at Hunstanton is lying on the beach, "where the sand dunes are", according to town councillor Kate Dunbar at the scene.
It was nearly a fortnight ago that another sperm whale was stranded on the beach, under the cliffs.
She doesn't think this whale can have been there too long, saying: "It's quite close to the edge of the sea and the tide is on the way out."
Coastguards are on Hunstanton beach where a whale has been stranded.
Councillor Kate Dunbar, who's watching the action, says the whale is "of considerable size" in comparison to their vehicle.
Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live
Hunstanton councillor Kate Dunbar has just told us she is near the scene where the whale has been stranded.
She's just told us that it's lying on the beach about 100-200m from the sea, and the tide is on the way out.
We'll bring you more news as we get it.
We've got journalists on the way to the scene of the whale stranding off Hunstanton.
We'll let you know as soon as we have more information.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue have told us there is one stranded but live sperm whale at Hunstanton.
It's two miles east from where the last one was found and is a mile and a half out on sand.
The Coastguard is in attendance.
We're hearing reports that a live sperm whale has been stranded at Hunstanton.
We'll bring you more news as soon as we have it.
Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, external wants to increase some of its parking charges.
The changes would cut the minimum charged to £2 for two hours, but for three hours it would increase to £3. Stays of up to five hours are cheaper, but those parking for more than eight hours will face an increase of £1.50.
Parking for blue badge holders will no longer be free, but will set at a flat rate of £2.
Some bright spells this morning, but cloud will increase later with patchy rain.
Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).
A cloudy night, with patchy rain. Minimum temperature: 8C (46F). There's more information on BBC Weather.
The stories in the news this morning:
Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live
Hello and thanks for joining us for Thursday's Norfolk Live.
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