A rescue mission was launched after a pod of whales became stranded off the British coast.

Nine pilot whales are believed to have become stuck on mudflats in the Swale estuary, located between Whitstable and the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

Video footage of the incident captured the whales struggling in the shallow waters.

Crews from the HM Coastguard and about 30 members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) raced to the scene - using specialist equipment in an attempt to help the whales.

However, due to the tides and substrate, the whales were unreachable.