A footprint which could belong to one of the last Neanderthals to walk the Earth has been discovered in Gibraltar.

Although most Neanderthals had died out by around 40,000 years ago, small populations clung on in caves at the edge of the Iberian peninsular, where stone tools prove they were still alive around 28,000 years ago.

Now scientists at The Gibraltar National Museum, who have spent the last 10 years studying ancient paths in the vast sand dune above Catalan Bay, believe they have found the footprint of a teenage Neanderthal who lived around 29,000 years ago.

The footprint was discovered alongside the tracks of deer, ibex, aurochs, leopard and even elephants.

Neanderthals lived for longer in Gibraltar because the area was never inhabited by early humans during last ice age, so they had no competition for food and resources.

The footprint shows a distinct 0.7 inch (2cm) gap between the first and second toe, similar to other Neanderthal foot bones in Italy. The little early human probably stood around 4.1 feet tall.

If confirmed to be Neanderthal, the dunes would become only the second site in the world with footprints of the early extinct species, the other being Vartop Cave in Romania.