A fin whale thought to be around 16 metres (52 feet) long has been found dead on Fistral Beach in Cornwall.

Footage from Wednesday 15 November shows the whale carcass surrounded by a cordon with locals watching on as authorities examine the body.

A team from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Marine Stranding Network was alerted to the incident and is on the scene.

The spectacle is drawing large numbers of spectators and the local council has asked people to avoid the area.

A huge dead fin whale has washed up a popular Cornwall beach this morning. The animal, believed to be 16-metre long, was discovered on Fistral Beach in Newquay before 7am this morning (Wednesday November 15). The fin whale is the second largest of the Whale family. Large crowds are drawn to the sad spectacle and Cornwall Council ask people to avoid the beach. According to beach goers this whale was possibly seen alive in the bay on the 14th November yesterday.

A team from Cornwall Wildlife trust Marine Stranding was alerted to the incident and is on scene. Devon and Cornwall Police has also been asked to attend to cordon off the area in a bid to prevent people and dogs from approaching the potentially hazardous dead cetacean.

One witness on the beach said: "There's a dead whale washed up on Fistral Beach. Two police cars and Search and rescue. A Lot of public attention.