Astonishing prehistoric footprints dating back 7,000 years are being examined by a team of experts on Formby Beach.

Over 50 prehistoric human footprints have already been logged.

And excited experts have also discovered tracks made by ancient animals, and frozen in time for millennia, such as red deer, wild boar, crane - and aurochs,

Aurochs are an extinct type of wild cattle that used to be found in Europe, Asia and north Africa, and were last seen in Europe in the 17th century.

Overseeing the careful excavations, midway between Lifeboat Road and Victoria Road, are experts from the Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership.

A spokesman said: “A superb sediment bed full of prehistoric footprints on Formby beach is currently being studied by a team from Manchester University.

“Led by archaeologist Alison Burns, who wrote our guides to Fort Crosby and the Prehistoric Footprints at Formby, the team have already logged 58 human footprints and over 2,000 Red Deer prints, frozen for thousands of years in the dried mud.

“The bed, which is over 90m long, stretches like a who’s who of the Mesolithic period along the beach - incredible.

“The trails of aurochs, crane and wild boar have also been found, with the team planning on measuring and logging everything on the site over the next week.

“A window into prehistory - walking alongside it and seeing the imprints of human toes, or the vast “plinth” tracks of mighty aurochs is a remarkable experience.

“All too soon though the tide, wind and sand will claim them - but not before Alison and the team have recorded what’s there for posterity.”