LIKE a latter day Howard Carter unearthing the tomb of Tutankhamun, one Bournemouth beachgoer and his family were determined to find out where these steps lead.

Paul Lang, from Barleythorpe in Rutland, was visiting Flaghead Chine with his wife Nicola and sons Harrison, 11, and Oliver, nine, and his cousin Sarah with partner Phil and sons Jack, nine, and Harry, four.

"As we sat on the steps my wife Nicola said 'how many steps are there here?' Good question I thought," said Paul.

"Nicola is from South Wales, her father was a coal miner so her digging genes kicked in. Long after our boys were tired or bored she just carried on digging and digging."

The team, equipped only with children's beach spades, drew quite a number of curious onlookers during the excavation.

"A small crowd was always over our shoulders, many saying the same old joke - found treasure, reached Australia yet?

"After four hours of digging and one broken spade we hit the final step before water kept coming in. The total was six.

"Does anyone know how many there are?

"Not sure why we did it still, it was just curiosity.

"Had a great day though, love Bournemouth and Poole."