The carcass of what is believed to be a seven-metre basking shark has washed up on Felixstowe beach, just a few yards from the pier.

Ipswich Star: A whale has been washed up on Felixstowe beach. Picture: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWEA whale has been washed up on Felixstowe beach. Picture: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWE (Image: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWE)

Felixstowe Coastguard Rescue Team were called out to the discovery of the badly decomposed remains on Felixstowe beach at around 9am this morning.

How the carcass ended up there remains unknown, but a spokesman for East Suffolk Council said that occasionally whales or sharks get too close to the shore and become stranded, or they die out at sea and get washed onto the beach.

Initially the carcass was believed to be a whale, however Felixstowe Coastguard Rescue Team said that marine experts believed it was a basking shark as it had two dorsal fins and a vertical tail.

Alan Boyle, a local photographer who saw the carcass, said: "It is having a hard time being washed away. Spring tides are still continuing to push it closer in so it could end up coming closer to the prom."

Ipswich Star: A whale has been washed up on Felixstowe beach. Picture: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWEA whale has been washed up on Felixstowe beach. Picture: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWE (Image: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWE)

"I am so sad to see this. The coastguard thinks it was probably hit by a ship."

Mr Boyle said that the coastguards on scene believe the carcass is around six to seven metres long and suspect it died after being hit by a ship.

He added: "The coastguard is now on scene monitoring it to see if it gets washed back out to sea or not."

A spokesman for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, said: "HM Coastguard received a call at around 9.20am this morning from a member of the public reporting that a large carcass had washed ashore on Felixstowe beach.

Ipswich Star: A whale has been washed up on Felixstowe beach. Picture: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWEA whale has been washed up on Felixstowe beach. Picture: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWE (Image: ALAN BOYLE/ EVERYTHING FELIXSTOWE)

"Felixstowe Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to the scene, where they currently remain to ensure public safety. Suffolk County Council and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency's Receiver of Wreck have been informed.

"HM Coastguard is urging people to stay clear of the scene and to keep dogs on leads until the council has removed the carcass."

East Suffolk Council had the responsibility of ensuring the safe removal of the carcass, which was severely decomposed.

A spokesman said: "We are not sure how it got there, but we had to make sure it was removed to ensure that it was no longer a hazard - especially for people walking their dogs."

The carcass was safely removed and taken to Clarkes of Melton, which is an animal disposal service.