Dead minke whale 'hit by ship' washes up on Shoeburyness beach Published duration 6 January 2016

image copyright MCA/Southend CRT image caption It is thought the whale died after being struck by a ship

A dead whale has been found on an Essex beach.

The 24ft (7.4m) minke whale was first spotted floating in the Thames Estuary on Sunday and was found washed up on East Beach, Shoeburyness, on Monday.

Scientists from the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) examined the mammal and said it appeared to have died after being struck by a ship.

It is not yet known how the carcass of the whale will be disposed of, or when it will be removed.

The CSIP, which attends cases of whales, porpoises and dolphins that become stranded on the UK coastline, was first informed about the dead whale on Sunday.

media caption Dead whale on beach 'hit by ship'

image copyright Port of London Authority image caption The dead whale, with its tongue distended, was seen in the Thames Estuary

A member of staff from the Port of London Authority reported that it was floating in water in the estuary.

A spokesman said whales in water it controls were "becoming more common".

"We've had five or six in the last five years or so."

image copyright MCA/Southend CRT image caption It is not yet known how the whale will be disposed of

image copyright MCA/Southend CRT image caption The beach is owned by the Ministry of Defence

The whale first washed up near Shoeburyness on Monday but floated back out on the tide.

It later beached on land owned by the Ministry of Defence and was examined by experts on Tuesday.

image copyright John and Diane Whitehead image caption It was photographed from a distance by members of the public

Minke Whales generally grow to between 23ft to 32ft (7m to 10m) and live for up to 50 years. They are found throughout the northern hemisphere.