Hopes raised for safety of whale

The whale was first spotted on Friday afternoon

Conservationists are hoping a minke whale spotted close to the Cornish coast on Friday may have headed into deeper waters.

The whale was first seen off Falmouth on Friday afternoon then reappeared off the shore at Swanpool Beach.

Volunteers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue were patrolling the area on Saturday morning but there has been no sign of the minke.

Dave Jarvis, from the charity, said it was a worrying time for them.

CORNWALL MINKE STRANDINGS 2006: 1 2003: 2 2002: 2 2001: 2 2000: 3

"The reports we received were that it was close into shore, which obviously is not a good place for the animal to be," he said.

Minke whales are found in most oceans of the world and often enter estuaries, bays and inlets.

They can measure up to 9.8m (32ft) and weigh up to 10 tonnes.