Another pre-historic find!

Just weeks after a giant Diploducus toe bone dug up on the beach was identified another remarkable find has come to light.

Amateur fossil hunter Dave Brockhurst has been told by experts at the Natural History Museum that fossils he discovered in the town belong to an ultra-rare marine reptile from 130 million years ago.

Dave found the pair of two-inch jaw bones and sent them to the Natural History Museum believing them to belong to an early dwarf crocodile.

He explained: "They were having renovation works at the museum so I've just found out what it actually is. The creature is known as an Aigialosaur (illustrated below) and lived in the lower cretaceous period. Fossil finds are very rare and the nearest one to be discovered from Bexhill is all the way in Swanage in Dorset.

"I'm delighted. I tend to find something of interest every time I go out but this is one of my best.

"It's a pre-cursor to some of the larger marine reptiles, and it's further evidence that Bexhill was a fairly popular spot for dinosaurs. I think so far 29 species have been discovered. "

Dave was reluctant to give away the location where he made his find, saying only it was 'in the Bexhill beach area.' He has been fossil hunting for around 10 years and is a member of the Hastings and District Geological Society.

He added: "It helps to have some local geological knowledge but really it's something anyone can have a go at and have fun doing providing they look in the right places. All you need is a small pick axe, a hammer and a trowel."