The body of a whale which stranded itself and died in the Great Ouse in King's Lynn has been buried.

Eastern Daily Press: Fin whale in the river at King's Lynn. Photo: James LowenFin whale in the river at King's Lynn. Photo: James Lowen (Image: James Lowen)

The juvenile fin whale, which was about 35ft in length and weighed around eight tonnes, was first spotted in the river on Thursday morning.

It was carried back out towards the sea but returned again that evening.

Despite the efforts of King's Lynn Conservancy Board, who tried to encourage the whale back out to sea, it died on Friday.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said the whale was taken onto land it agency owns south of the town.

Eastern Daily Press: The Conservancy Board used a boat to encourage the whale to swim back out to sea. Picture: Ian BurtThe Conservancy Board used a boat to encourage the whale to swim back out to sea. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

They added: 'We liaised with the Institute of Zoology, who did an investigation of the carcass and took samples to try to establish the cause of death and the reason why it stranded itself

'Once they had finished on Saturday evening EA staff dug a hole about 35ft deep and buried the whale.'

Eastern Daily Press: The Fin Whale has returned to the River Ouse near the quay in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian BurtThe Fin Whale has returned to the River Ouse near the quay in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: The Fin Whale in King's Lynn has died. Picture: Ian BurtThe Fin Whale in King's Lynn has died. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: A Fin Whale was spotted in the River Ouse in King's Lynn on Thursday morning. Picture: Ian BurtA Fin Whale was spotted in the River Ouse in King's Lynn on Thursday morning. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)