Government specialists have reportedly been notified after the mammal – thought to be a baleen whale – was spotted at Hartland Quay on the North Devon Heritage Coast.

The body, which is around 35 feet long, was first seen at around 4pm on Wednesday.

Sarah Stafford, manager of the nearby Hartland Quay Hotel and Pub, said: “We have reported it to the Government on their specialist whale and dolphin hotline.

“It’s huge but it’s definitely dead. We think it’s a baleen whale.”

People have reportedly been warned to stay away from the carcass to avoid the risk of disease.

It is also illegal to remove any part of a whale that has been washed up.

Last month a whale found off the Norwegian coast had to be euthanised after scientists found 30 plastic bags in its stomach.

A study by the World Economic Forum estimates that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea, by weight, than fish.