Dead junior Humpback whale floating off St Ives coast
The body of a dead whale has been reported floating off the coast of Cornwall.
Falmouth Coastguard said it believed the whale was a junior Humpback which had lost its mother and become ill.
The animal which is about 25ft (7.62m) long, is drifting towards St Ives, and is thought to be the same whale spotted near the Wave Hub project recently.
The Coastguard is advising people not to go near it as it is decomposing and poses a health and safety risk.
Falmouth coastguard watch commander Ken Bazeley said: "Lifeguards investigated and confirmed that it was a whale.
"We'll have to wait to see where it goes and then the local authority will have a look and decide what to do with it.
"We're just hoping it doesn't come into the harbour. It will smell quite bad and would pose a health risk, so people should keep away."