A rescue mission is underway to save a pod of pilot whales stranded off the Kent coast.
It is thought nine of the mammals are stuck on mudflats of the Swale estuary at Seasalter, between Whitstable and the Isle of Sheppey.
About 30 members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue are understood to be at the scene and are using specialist equipment to reach the whales.
They hope the pod will be able to refloat when the tide comes in at 7am tomorrow.
Video footage taken earlier today shows the whales stuck in the low tide with only the tops of their fins visible.
Pilot whales, which can be found worldwide, are one of the largest oceanic dolphins and are only exceeded in size by orcas.
It is not the first time whales have become stranded in the Swale.
In 2020, a sperm whale died two days after it was first spotted off the Whitstable coast.
Six years earlier, drivers were left stunned as a lorry carrying a 50ft headless sperm whale hurtled down the A2 after the huge creature became stranded near Seasalter.
The bloody carcass was taken to a landfill site in Canterbury.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue has been contacted for further information.
