A clear video has been released showing Kent's own beluga whale splashing about in the Thames.

Captured by Fraser Gray, the footage shows so-called Benny the beluga seemingly unfazed by his journey miles out of his normal stomping ground.

The video was released as experts say the whale off the shore of Gravesend appears to be healthy, on its sixth day in the Thames Estuary.

On Saturday, the rare whale was spotted frolicking with two porpoise friends.

Local photographer Fraser Gray has been down to spot the whale nearly every day.

He said: "Benny seems to spend the morning around the Ship and Lobster moving over to the drill ship around lunchtime then around late afternoon to the barges at Shorne.

"Apparently he then rests near the red barges over at Tilbury overnight.

"Benny was swimming strongly and delighted the onlookers on the Promenade yesterday.

"I went to Denton Wharf and helped around 20 spotters along the riverside paths to the promenade to get a better view.

"Previously they were all named together on the blocked pathway by PLA Denton Wharf slipway."

But British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the Port of London Authority (PLA) are urging river users to steer clear of the animal.

Experts monitoring the animal say it appears to be a sub-adult – older than a juvenile but not yet an adult – and that its strong swimming, foraging, surfacing and diving show it is likely to be healthy.

However, the beluga is hundreds of miles away from its usual home.

Beluga whales are a small whale species that usually inhabit the coastlines of northern Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska and Canada.

Since the 1960s there have been 20 sightings of belugas around the UK coast, the last being two whales off Northumberland in 2015.

As adults they are pure white, but young are born grey and loose their greyness during the first seven years of their lives.

The animals generally live in small pods, but in summer will form massive groups around warmer river estuaries. It is not uncommon for smaller groups and individuals to migrate great distances.

Tanya Ferry, Environment Manager for the PLA said: “We thank river users for their consideration in avoiding the area, and ask them to continue to do so. We are working closely with BDMLR and are in contact with other relevant wildlife welfare organisations”.

BDMLR director Gavin Parsons added: “While this whale is visiting, both organisations will continue to monitor and plan for possible assistance scenarios and then will work cooperatively to ensure the best outcome.”