A 30ft Fin whale recovered from Sheerness Docks may be the calf of a 50ft female found dead at Camber Sands in east Sussex just days earlier.

Now tests are underway to discover if the juvenile female, found off number two berth at the docks, died of injuries alone.

The recovery was observed by Jason Carter, Kent co-ordinator for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, a veteran of the headline making Thames whale rescue bid in January.

The Institute of Zoology requested blubber samples which will tell them more about the life and death of the young whale.

Tests could also reveal if the Sheerness whale was the offspring of the Camber female.

Although common in temperate waters, the Fin whale is a rare sighting off the east coast of England.

Dock workers first spotted the whale last week, but it was not until Monday of this week that it was found dead and the recovery mission launched.

SEE THIS WEEK'S SHEERNESS TIMES GUARDIAN FOR MORE DETAILS