A decapitated seal has washed up on a beach, "alarming" an early-morning dog walker.

Joseph Hurling was walking his pooch along Ramsgate beach at 6.30am when he came across the headless creature.

Mr Hurling had found a deceased baby porpoise two days prior just 20 metres down the beach.

He added: "To find a dead porpoise and seal washed up on the same beach in the space of three days is concerning.

"It’s not something you expect to find during the early morning dog walk."

"It’s always sad to see marine wildlife washed up on our shores, it was certainly alarming to find the decapitated seal."

A British Divers Marine Life Rescue spokesman explained: "This is most likely to be due to scavengers by the way they feed on a carcass like this.

"It could also be due to an entanglement around their neck, but it is most likely scavengers."

Anyone who finds a stranded whale, dolphin or other marine mammal is urged to call the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme on 0800 652 0333.