Beachgoers were left shocked yesterday evening after a baby porpoise washed up on a Kent beach.

The creature was found at Sheerness, near the yacht club.

Dad Jason Older, who lives in the town, was shocked to find the cetacean as he walked along the beach with his children.

He said: "It was 6.20pm and we saw it laying there. My kids thought it was a shark at first until we got up close.

"We had to Google it because we didn't know what it was – it looked like a baby whale or something else and was a bit rotten.

"It didn't look like it had been hit by a boat or anything and there wasn't anything else dead around it."

Swale council was made aware of the creature which was later removed.

A spokesman for local authority said: “We were informed of the adult porpoise found on Cheyne Rock Wednesday and reported it to the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme.

“We’ve had sustained periods of north-easterly winds this year which has meant an increase in stranded mammals washing up on the beach.

“To report a stranded mammal, call the British Divers Marine Life Rescue 24 hours a day on 01825 765546.”

Read more: All the latest news from Sheerness