Beach closed as croc goes for a swim

A large crocodile has forced the closure of a far-north Queensland beach.

About 50 people had to be called out of the water when the 4m saltwater crocodile was spotted swimming within 100m of the shore at Ellis Beach, north of Cairns, on Sunday afternoon.

The beach was closed for several hours.

Ellis Beach is just a few kilometres from Kewarra Beach, where a crocodile killed a fisherman's dog in front of horrified onlookers last month.

A 3m crocodile was found beheaded a few days after the Kewarra Beach attack.

Last week authorities removed a 2.7m crocodile from Kewarra Beach.

The Queensland Government has said it is developing a plan for crocodile management in the far north.