Body of 60ft whale found washed up on Solway coast

THE body of a whale measuring nearly 60ft has beached on the Solway Firth coast.

The carcase, which was being examined yesterday by council officials and police, was discovered on Sunday at Carsluith, near Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire.

It was found on the sandy estuary of the River Cree, near stake nets used for salmon fishing. At that part of the estuary, the tide can rise more than 20ft.

Jackie Graham, a fishery biologist with the Galloway Fishery Trust, said: “People here think it’s a minke whale, but it seems pretty big.”

Last night, no decision had been taken about removing it.