Skegness dead whale smell causes problem

Members of the public gathered to see the animal before it was covered

The body of an adult whale which washed up on a Lincolnshire beach is proving a headache for officials.

The 35ft (10.7m) sperm whale was spotted on the Skegness seafront early on Saturday.

Hundreds of people gathered at the scene, but the animal which may have been dead for days has begun to smell.

East Lindsey District Council said it would cover the 30-tonne carcass with sand until working out how to dispose of it.

Emma Burgess from East Lindsey District Council said: "Obviously as it is decomposing, the smell is getting worse.

"So we have covered it with sand until we can remove it from the beach, which should be early next week."

Some bystanders said they thought the whale, which had gashes on its back, may have died out at sea after a collision with a boat.