The was the mystery creature dubbed a "globster" which washed up on a beach in the Philippines.

The enormous hairy blob surfaced and sparked panic from villagers who believe it is the sign of an impending natural disaster.

They flocked to see the 20ft long dead carcass, posing for selfies with it in Oriental Mindoro province, Philippines.

Marine workers later arrived to take samples of the ''unidentified creature'', which they said smells ''awful'' like ''something from another planet''.

Resident Tam Maling said: ''An earthquake is heading for Oriental Mindoro. The big globster is a sign of something bad coming. Please pray for us.''

Vincent Dela Pena Badillo added: ''Many were alarmed including me when we learned the news about it. It has been told that when creatures from the deepest parts of the ocean start appearing, something bad will happen.''

It is around 4ft wide at one end and about 2ft wide at the other with a greyish white colour. Officials who measured it said it was more than 20ft long.

Government workers from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Mimapora Region will now dispose of the creature.

Fishery Law Enforcement Officer Vox Krusada said: ''I really experienced the full power of its smell because I'm the one who took the tissue samples. I almost puked.

"I felt better after taking a bath but the stench still lingers in my nose.

"For now, we can say its a whale, but the exact species is still unknown. The tissue samples are now sent to our lab for DNA analysis.''