A trove of fossilised dinosaur eggs was discovered by a group of Chinese construction workers as they blasted rocks and earth, state media reported.

Thought by local scientists to be about 130 million years old, the nest of between 20 and 30 eggs was found in the eastern Jiangxi province.

Their age would place them in the Cretaceous period.

The builders were preparing the ground for construction of a school when they made the discovery, the People’s Daily tabloid newspaper reported.

As they prepared to break down a large boulder after blasting the site, they noticed oval stones and dark fragments about 2mm thick.

They immediately stopped work and contacted authorities, China News reported, adding that the area was once on the shores of a lake, and suitable breeding ground for dinosaurs.

The eggs have been transferred to the county museum for further research.