A dead 12-metre (40ft) whale has washed up on a beach in Essex, and police have advised people to keep away. The creature was swept ashore at Clacton-on-Sea on Friday. The environmental group Big Blue Ocean Cleanup said it was a fin whale, which can grow up to 25 metres in length. It is the second largest mammal in the world after the blue whale. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity said the whale was small for its species, meaning it was a juvenile. “Removal of the carcass is the responsibility of the beach owner,” the charity said in a Facebook post. “In the meantime we strongly advise people avoid going near it as there is a risk of contracting an infection from contact with its bodily fluids or the body itself.” Essex police wrote in a Facebook post: “Sadly a 40ft whale has been washed up on Clacton this morning. We are currently in attendance with other organisations and discussions are under way on how to remove her. “The area is cordoned off and the public are advised to stay away. SocialDistancing StayAlert” A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said officers were called to a report of a large object on the beach, later confirmed to be a dead whale, just after 5.30am.