A 50ft-long fin whale has died in Shetland after being found stranded at a nature reserve in Shetland.

The animal, which is believed to weigh around 30 tonnes, died overnight between Wednesday and Thursday on the island of Noss and is now floating off the coast.

Fin whales, also known as finbacks, are an endangered species that can reach lengths of up to 90ft.

They are considered the second largest whale species after the blue whale, which can grow to 100ft long.

Scottish Natural Heritage marine adviser Karen Hall said: "It's always difficult to tell what causes strandings.

"We would like to get some samples but the whale is still floating and it's proving tricky.

"The people who found the whale initially thought that it was a minke because they're quite common here.

"Fin whales are fairly rare and they're normally found out west. You rarely find them close to shore."

The Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme has been in touch with Shetland Islands Council to discuss securing the whale's body for a necropsy.