A small whale has been freed after it became stranded in the River Thames on Sunday evening.

Crowds gathered at Richmond Lock and Weir after the whale, believed to be a Minke and between three to four metres long, became stuck on the lock’s boat rollers at around 7pm.

Footage posted from the scene showed the whale finally being freed at about 1am, however it’s whereabouts are currently unknown.

Videos showed the sea mammal being hosed down by a man believed to be a Port of London Authority (PLA) staffer, while a vet performed a check-up at the river’s edge, before the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) arrived at the scene to the cheers of onlookers around 9pm.

Fire crews were also at the scene, along with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue service.

A spokesman for the PLA, which owns and operates the lock, said: “At around 7pm on Sunday, a small whale, approximately 3-4m long, believed to be a Minke whale, became stranded at Richmond Lock and Weir.

“PLA staff have attempted to assist the whale with water along with British Divers Marine Life Rescue.”

A PLA spokesperson told Sky News that the whale was being towed along the river on an inflatable dinghy to Isleworth but had escaped and swam away.

Its whereabouts are not yet known and the public are being asked look out for the whale as it is not in good health.

Apparently it's suffering from damaged fins and poor nutrition.

Mink whale stranded in Teddington Lock

Mink whale stranded in Teddington Lock

It is believed the whale was first spotted at midday a few miles up the river near Barnes Bridge.

Minke whales are the smallest of the great whales, growing to about 10m. They can usually be found throughout the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Their range extends from the ice edge in the Arctic during the summer to near the equator during winter.