London, Jun 1 (ANI): Fossil experts were stunned to discover that the fossilized remains of a creature found by a seaside couple turned out to be that of a Loch Ness-type monster.

The fossil was discovered by Tracey Marler, who was scouring a beach for dinosaur remains, and she later went back with her partner Chris Moore, and found four more.

When news of the discovery unfolded, excited palaeontologists rushed to the Dorset beach and unearthed the skeleton of a 12ft creature looking just like fabled Nessie. t was found to boast a long thin neck, four huge flippers and razor-sharp teeth, but unlike the freshwater-loving Scots beastie, this one lived in the sea.

Last night scientists had identified it as a Jurassic plesiosaur, which preyed on fish in the English Channel between 150 and 200 million years ago.

Moore, who is a fossil expert, was very excited with the find.

"It came out in pieces but you could clearly see how it looked," the Sun quoted him as saying.

The skeleton, dug up at Monmouth Beach, is poised to go on show at nearby Lyme Regis Museum.

"There are only ten known examples. I've been doing this for 30-odd years and I've only ever found the odd bone," thrilled scientist Richard Edmonds added. (ANI)