Senthurai (TN), Oct 9 (ANI): Police have mounted vigil after villagers vandalised a newly discovered cluster of fossilised dinosaur eggs unearthed from a riverbed in Tamil Nadu.

A week ago scientists discovered hundreds of dinosaur eggs at Senthurai village of Ariyalur district, which could be up to 65 million years old.

The hoard of football-sized eggs was discovered by geologists in the Cauvery river basin near Senthurai.

Unsuspecting villagers have dug up and are taking away pieces of the rare find without knowing its value of what geologists say could be a big dinosaur species.

Police superintendent Najmal Hoda visited the sites on Thursday and asked the local officials to be vigilant.

"I am going to guard this place. I will put round-the-clock police security and protection here. I have also requested the collector to make available from the revenue side to give some security and some round-the-clock supervision," said Hoda.

Geologists say the area could be the largest nesting site ever to be discovered in the country.

The team sent photos of the eggs to the International Dinosaur Research Centre who confirmed their findings.

Scientists say this discovery could shed light on why the creatures became extinct. (ANI)