THOUSANDS of people flocked to the coast at St Brides, Newport, yesterday, to see the 60ft whale washed up on the shore.

Hundreds of cars were parked in the Lighthouse Inn car park and along a nearby road last night as people crowded to take a look at the dead whale - causing major traffic hold-ups.

Among those who went was Simon Williams, 25, from Newport. He said: "I saw the picture in the Argus and decided to come and have a look for myself.

"I was shocked at how big it actually is. It is amazing and probably a once in a lifetime sight."

Howard Armstrong, one of the owners of the Lighthouse Inn, said business had probably been a little busier than normal but most people were using the car park to walk across to the huge creature.

He said yesterday: "I went down this afternoon to take some photographs. "I have seen one before as a child. I believe wildlife is sacrosanct, but at least it was a natural thing and hasn't been killed by interference by man.

"It was an incredible sight."

Danielle Sheahan, who runs the nearby West Usk Lighthouse bed and breakfast with her husband Frank, said today: "When the TV cameras were filming last night there were at least 200 people here, but there were new people arriving constantly until it got dark."

Gwent Police had to attend at Beach Road to make sure traffic was flowing because so many people were travelling to see the whale.

They returned to the site intermittently throughout the evening to regulate traffic.

Inspector Chris Brown said this morning that Pill police were continuing to keep an eye on the situation today.

He added: "From a health point of view we would like to warn people not to climb all over it, because they have diseases and people don't know what they're dealing with."