Matthew Myerscough, a mountaineer who survived being buried in an avalanche on Yr Wyddfa in 2014, began fossil hunting as part of his recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder. His new hobby led to the discovery at Lavernock Point of a rare Jurassic marine reptile jawbone, believed to be the first plesiosaur find of its kind in Wales, highlighting the scientific value amateur fossil hunters can bring.

Myerscough and two other fossil hunters spotted the large bone in limestone after walking along the Vale of Glamorgan coast. Experts identified it as the lower jaw of a rhomaleosaurus, a carnivorous “sea dragon” dating from about 201 million years ago; National Museum Cardiff is continuing research and the group hopes the discovery will result in an academic paper.