A fraudster exploiting the tragic death of the Thames whale has launched an eBay auction of a watering can he claims was used in the failed rescue.

The fake auction copies one by the real rescuers trying to raise funds by selling the actual watering can on the auction website.

The 36-hour attempt to rescue a 19ft northern bottle-nosed whale from central London cost the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, a small charity, about £100,000.

BDMLR director Tony Woodley said the fake auction was "very concerning" and in "extremely poor taste".

An eBay spokesman said that the website had removed the fake auction at midday, as it breached the "user agreement".

'Nothing to do with us'

The fraudulent advert read: "The rescuer used this watering can to help keep the whale wet/moist during its rescue, unfortunately the whale died during the rescue.

"This item will be ideal for a collector as there are rarely any whales in London, especially in the River Thames."

The posting had "nothing to do" with the rescue charity, said Mr Woodley.

Their official auction, of item 7213765194, features a red can that belonged to volunteer marine medic Faye Archell.

"I have grown up with this charity and have been on seal releases from when I was a little girl," she wrote on eBay.

"This charity means so much to me and I feel privileged to have been involved in the entire rescue... Myself, along with medics and vets were with the whale when it died."

The can was advertised as "a symbol of hope" and "a piece of history".

About 230 million people worldwide watched throughout Saturday as the whale's health failed, ending in its death at 7pm.

By 11am on Tuesday no bids have been made in the fake auction, which requires a starting offer of £1,924.

Yet the authentic auction has attracted more than 100 bids at this time, with the highest at £6,450. It will end on February 1.

£300 parking bill for rescuers

Meanwhile parking tickets worth £300 slapped onto marked BDMLR vehicles during the rescue have been quashed.

Attendants from Westminster Council and Transport for London issued the tickets on Saturday while rescuers fought against time to save the whale.

It was "unfortunate", but the charity was happy with the outcome, Mr Woodley said.

The first results of a post mortem of the whale, now revealed as a female adolescent, are expected tomorrow morning.

A team led by expert marine vet Paul Jepson started the examination on a dock in Gravesend, east London. Further tests on the tissue will be performed at London Zoo.

The whale's remains will go to the Natural History Museum, which will clean the bones and preserve them for research.

The data from the post mortem will form part of a long-term government-funded research project into the causes of death among marine mammals along the UK coast.