Earliest ever spider's web

Scientists at Oxford University discovered tiny threads of spider silk trapped inside amber formed around 140 million years ago which was found by local man Jamie Hiscocks.

Jamie, of Reginald Road, is a passionate fossil hunter who in November 2006 discovered an amber bed on the beach almost by accident '“ but it turned out to be one of the rarest on the planet.

Jamie said: "I happened to spot a very tiny piece of amber in-situ. I knew it to be amber. I was amazed, so I continued to search for more amber with my brother Jon, who happened to be with me at the time of the discovery. We were very fortunate to find several more pieces that day. Naturally I have been back as often as I can to collect new specimens of amber. However, the beds are not often showing as the sands continue to shift around by the tidal currents. One has to be very patient in this discipline! Later on a meeting was arranged with Professor Martin Brasier of Oxford University. I gave him some amber samples to take back with him to Oxford for further study, where they remain today."

The web itself appears to be similar to those of modern orb web spiders, which weave a spiral web of silk to catch insect prey.

The discovery suggests these spiders existed far earlier than previously thought and scientists believe the web became trapped in conifer resin after a forest fire and then became fossilised inside the resulting amber. They hope by studying amber from the same deposits they will learn more about spiders at that time and the prey they ate. Professor Brasier discussed his findings at the annual meeting of the Palaeontology Association in Glasgow this month.

Jamie's aim now is to discover a dinosaur feather trapped in amber and describes this as his "ultimate prize find".