A dead seal with its head missing has washed up on a beach in Kent.

The seal was spotted on Tankerton Beach in Whitstable at the weekend by passers by.

Linda Gray spotted the animal and raised concerns about it.

She said: “If this can happen to a strong animal of the sea, what about our children that play in the water?”

A Canterbury City Council spokesperson said it is believed the seal had been dead for some time and washed up on the beach after strong winds.

“The seal at Tankerton came ashore on Sunday afternoon in strong onshore, north easterly winds,” they said.

“The carcass is missing its head and the animal has been dead for quite a while. It has been reported for removal.

"Sustained onshore winds such as those we have had in recent weeks, with rough weather and sea conditions, means that it is not unusual for the same carcass to wash up on multiple occasions, in different locations each time."

In March, another decapitated seal washed up on Ramsgate beach, alarming a dog walker who spotted the animal.

He had seen a dead porpoise on the beach only two days prior and said it was concerning.