A RENOWNED fossil collection has received a major donation.

The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in the village of Kimmeridge, has recently received an incredible six-metre long Ichthyosaur fossil specimen which was discovered about 10 years ago.

Ichthyosaurs were prehistoric marine reptiles, similar in looks to dolphins, which swam the seas of Jurassic Dorset.

A spokesman for the collection said: “The fossil came to us semi-prepared from the top surface (the surface which was exposed when it was found) and has spent the last three months here with us in our workshop being re-prepped from the underside by Steve Etches.

“By preparing the specimen from the underside it has enabled us to reveal a much better level of preservation than was seen before.

“This specimen represents one of the most complete ichthyosaurs to have come from the Kimmeridge Clay and has some incredibly unique features, possibly new to science.

“This is the first stage of preparation and the whole animal will be air abraded and mounted and once complete will be an integral part of our display here at the exhibition.”

Visitors can see the specimen currently under preparation in the workshop.

The spokesman added: “The creature died on its back – we estimate that when alive it measured six metres in length making it one of the largest and most complete found in the Kimmeridgian of the UK.

“The Etches Collection is proud to be the custodians of three of the most scientifically significant as well as complete ichthyosaurs from the Kimmeridge Clay, all with fantastically unique features including one with soft part preservation never seen before - our discoveries here at The Etches Collection continue to unlock new ‘stories from deep time’ not just to our visitors but to the world of science and palaeontology, providing vital new evidence on how creatures from the Jurassic seas of Dorset lived and died 157 million years ago.”

The Etches Collection is open every day, 10am to 5pm.

For more information see www.theetchescollection.org