Brymbo's fossil forest given SSSI protected status

The forest pre-dates dinosaurs by 70 million years

The site of a fossilised forest believed to date back more than 300 million years has been awarded national recognition to protect its future.

The former Brymbo steelworks site, near Wrexham, which includes fossilised plants and trees, has been made a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

A lot of the archaeology still remains buried despite being found in 2006.

Brymbo Heritage Group hopes to establish an excavation and visitor centre at the industrial site.

Natural Resources Wales has given the site SSSI status to protect finds like this fossilised bark

Last year, some fossils were destroyed in an arson attack at the site, which has been earmarked for a heritage centre.

Some fossils had already been removed for conservation and they will be returned for public display when a suitable building has been opened.

A heritage group hopes to re-use old buildings which date to the 18th Century for a museum and visitor centre