A humpback whale is towed ashore

A dead whale spotted floating in the Thames Estuary near the Isle of Sheppey is being examined by experts today.

The 38ft humpback whale was brought ashore by coastguards yesterday and is thought to have been dead for some time.

Researchers from the Zoological Society of London will take samples for a post-mortem examination that might reveal how the animal died.

The discovery was made just after 7am by the crew of a passing tug in the area where the River Thames meets the Medway.

Thames Coastguard were alerted and fishermen were warned to avoid the area.

It was towed to land owned by Peel Ports docks in Sheerness.

Discussions were taking place on the best way to remove the whale - and fishermen were being warned to avoid the area.

The dead whale being towed to Sheerness docks

Because bodies of whales washed up around the UK coast are the property of the Queen, a request will have to be made to the Receiver of Wrecks for permission to move it.

A spokesman for the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) confirmed it is a humpback whale and it believed to have been dead for some time.

Bob Armitage-Walker, from the coastguard rescue team, said: "It has been deceased for some period of time, hence the smell.

"It stops you from breathing, it's like eggy marsh gas. It is something you never forget in your life."

He said dead whales often fill with gas when they die and float and can float around for weeks or months before they hit land.

A spokesman for the ZSL said the method of removing carcasses is determined on a case by case basis and is usually the responsibility of the local port authority.

The dead whale being towed to Sheerness docks