Dead whale washes up on beach at Foreness Point in Thanet

A police cordon has been placed around the whale and marine experts are at the scene

The dead body of a large whale has been found washed up on a beach in Kent.

The mammal, believed to be an adult minke whale measuring around 36ft-long (11m), was discovered on the shore at Foreness Point, near Cliftonville.

A police cordon has been placed around the whale, which is believed to have died after being hit by a ship. Large cuts can be seen on its body.

Marine life experts are at the scene and samples will be taken for the Natural History Museum in London.

Coastguard Stuart Barnes said the mammal weighed about 10 tonnes (10,000 kilos), and would have to be disposed of by Thanet District Council.

Kent Online has reported that a dead whale was spotted at the London Array windfarm off the Thanet coast on Monday, and it is believed this could be the same one.

Thanet District Council said it will be organising the removal of the carcass from the beach.

Minke whales

• Part of the baleen whale suborder and belongs to the group known as Cetacea, which includes whales, dolphins and porpoises

• They are the second smallest of the baleen whales next to the pygmy right whale

• They have baleen plates instead of teeth and capture their prey trapping them in baleen bristles while allowing water and other debris to pass through

• Found worldwide but prefer cooler regions to tropical areas

• Feed on fish, including herring and whiting, as well as some plankton

• Live up to 50 years

The dead whale was washed up on the beach at Foreness Point on Wednesday morning