A dead porpoise has been found washed up on Sheerness beach.

It was spotted by the Seafront services team during their morning inspections at about 9am.

The cause of death is currently unknown but was reported to the Natural History Museum who investigate the stranding of marine mammals.

The adult was removed by Swale council shortly after it was found.

Porpoises are very common and are sometimes confused with dolphins by non-experts.

But unlike their attention-loving cousins, they are lesser spotted because they don’t perform the elaborate dives and splashes that dolphins do.

It believed the porpoise may have come from a colony, which was spotted near Queenborough.

However, Seafront officer at Swale council Ian Arnell, said beachings were "not an uncommon occurrence".

He said: "These things happen for a number of reasons, the porpoise could have been hit by a boat or ill health.

"The Isle of Sheppey typically gets one or two a year.

"I would like to inform the public that if they come across a dead or stranded mammal they should report it to the coastguard first as they have responsibility for the seashore."