UK mystery of still warm and bleeding dead dolphin found in village a mile from the sea

Mystery: The covered body of the dead porpoise

warm and dripping with blood - the RSPCA is investigating the strange discovery

Residents of a village a mile from the sea are stunned after finding a dead porpoise in an alleyway - lying in a pool of its own blood.

The 4ft long creature - similar to a dolphin - was discovered in Tarring, just outside Worthing, West Sussex, and appeared to have died recently.

Locals have no idea how the 12 stone mammal got there.

Tim Allen, 31, was one of the first people on the scene after being alerted to the grim discovery by a neighbour.

He said: "It was all so surreal. How on earth did a dead dolphin end up in our alley?

"It looked like it had been dragged, but even so, that would require a lot of effort.

"We're all floundering as to who, or what, would do such a thing. It's mad."

The male harbour porpoise appeared to have only recently died - but the cause of death is unknown.

Electrical engineer Tim says its body was warm and blood was dripping out its body.

He rang the RSPCA, who sent an emergency inspector to examine the porpoise.

Tim added: "Nobody has a clue how it got here. We were all stood round, all bemused.

"One old lady reckons it was dumped there as part of a revenge attack straight out of the Godfather.

"If it was put there as a joke, it wasn't a funny joke."

The corpse has been taken to the Zoological Society of London, where a post-mortem will be conducted.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "At present, we are not aware of any animal welfare issues but it is hoped tests will provide answers to this.

"He may have died from natural causes and washed up on the beach, and then later transported inland."