Coastguard rescue officers were called out after a porpoise washed up onto the shoreline in Lowestoft.

The Lowestoft and Southwold Coastguard Rescue teams were called to south Lowestoft beach, near to the Jolly Sailors pub in Pakefield, at about 8.20pm last night (Saturday).

A spokesman for the HM Coastguard Lowestoft and Southwold rescue teams said they attended following reports that 'a porpoise had washed up onto the shore at Lowestoft.'

With the teams tasked to investigate, the spokesman said: 'Following the recent beachings of a fin whale, sperm whale and a minke whale further along the Suffolk coast it was thought that it could have been another.

'On arrival it was found to be a harbour porpoise, about 5ft long, which had been struck by a propeller.'

The Maritime and Coastguard agency were informed to pass details onto the Receiver of Wreck, and the porpoise was expected to refloat into the sea on the high tide.