Dead whale to be removed over weekend

An eighteen metre-long dead whale which washed up on a beach in South Devon will be removed over the weekend.

The giant mammal was beached at low tide at Langstone Cliff near Dawlish. Experts say the carcass, which is partially decomposed, is a fin whale - the second largest animal in the world.

A security team were appointed to guard the 50 foot whale last night while plans were made to take it away.

Teignbridge District Council says it's aiming to appoint a contractor to take it to a disposal facility within 24 hours.

Onlookers have been lining the sea wall taking pictures and watching coastguard and council officials deal with the carcass.

It washed up ashore just after 8am on Thursday. Witnesses say the smell was pungent as soon as it hit the beach.

Teignbridge District Council has been working on a plan to remove the whale by land. They were forced to call in security overnight while they arrange contractors to take away the carcass.

Fin whales are usually found in large numbers in the Bay of Biscay and their presence in British waters is a relatively new discovery.