Workers remove dead 40ft whale from Clacton beach

The 40ft (12m) mammal - believed to be a young fin whale - was removed from the beach on Saturday

A dead whale washed up on a beach in Essex has been removed.

The 40ft (12m)-long creature, believed to be a fin whale, was first reported in shallow water close to the sand near Clacton, at about 05:30 BST on Friday.

The area was cordoned off during the recovery, but will be fully reopened on Sunday.

Mike Carron, of Tendring District Council, said: "It is a very sad occurrence that something so beautiful and amazing was washed up."

People had been warned to stay away due to health concerns, after the carcass was spotted at Holland-on-Sea.

A mechanical digger was sent to the scene early on Saturday

Experts have taken samples from the whale to try to establish how it died

Mr Carran, the council's assistant director for economic growth and leisure, said it was thought the mammal had been dead for some time before coming ashore, but it was not yet known how it died.

"The Institute of Zoology came this morning to take some samples - we'll keep in touch to try to work out what happened," he said.

Contractors started the removal at first light on Saturday, with the carcass fully removed by about 15:00 BST

Mr Carran said the 150m (492ft)-long cordon around the site had now been taken down after contractors started work at sunrise.

However, the stretch of sand where the creature rested would remain closed for now.

"The beach is clean now and there is no real sign the whale was there - it is ready to use tomorrow morning," he said,

"It's a very unusual situation and although we have processes and procedures for most things, this wasn't one of them."

It is thought to be the first time such a whale has been washed up in the area for more than 20 years.

Staff from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who went to the scene, said fin whales, which are the second largest animal on the planet, can grow to about 70ft (21m), so it was likely to be a juvenile.

The 40ft-long whale was first spotted on the beach at Holland-on-Sea in Essex early on Friday