THE fossil of a 200 million-year-old ‘sea dragon’ dug up from Doniford beach 20 years ago and largely forgotten ever since, has now been hailed as one of the most important palaeontological finds for decades.

And at least one leading expert is urging that the 12ft long sea-monster should be brought back to Watchet, if only for a visit, and put on display.

The Ichthyosaurus or sea dragon fossil, found by an unknown beach-walker at Doniford in the mid-1990s, is not only the largest ever discovered but was found to be pregnant with 7cm-long embryo – another scientific first.

After leaving West Somerset, the fossil eventually found its way into the collection of the Lower Saxony State Museum in Hannover.

It was put into store and remained unstudied for nearly two decades until palaeontologist Sven Sachs recently came across it by accident and realised it was “of absolutely massive importance”.

He contacted fossil expert Dean Lomax, of Manchester University, who confirmed that the reptile belonged to the species Ichthyosaurus somersetensis, named after the county in which so many reptile fossils have been unearthed.

Mr Lomax said: “It amazes me that specimens such as this can still be ‘rediscovered ‘ in museum collections. You don’t necessarily have to go out into the field to make a new discovery.

“This specimen provides new insights into the size range of the species and records the only example of one with an embryo. This was still developing but has a backbone, fins, ribs and other bones.”

Full feature in this week’s Free Press