A rare wooden log boat dating to the Bronze Age has been discovered lying in mud near a Kent boatyard.

Dr Paul Wilkinson, from SWAT Archaeology, was called by boatyard owners in Faversham to what they thought was part of an Anglo Saxon boat which had been unearthed from nearby blue clay.

But after further inspection, the vessel was found to date back further to 2,000 BC - the Bronze Age.

Dr Paul Wilkinson with the Bronze Age boat. Picture: SWNS.

Dr Wilkinson described the find is "as rare as hen's teeth" and "so important".

To stop it drying out, the 10ft part of the boat was returned to water and the site is being investigated to see if the other half has survived.

The owner of Hollow Shore boatyard, Dan Tester, has asked for the craft to go to a good home.