Marine archaeologists working on a wreck off Sicily have lifted five cannon believed to be from a British warship, dating back to the early 1700s. The wreck lies off Avola, near Sicily's south-western tip.

The lead archaeologist, Sebastiano Tusa, thinks the guns were exposed quite recently. They are thought to be from a British ship sunk during the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718. The British fought Spanish galleons in the battle, won by the British.

Here a diver inspects a gun carriage. More than 60 ships took part in the battle, fought because the UK and its allies wanted to prevent the King of Spain recapturing Sicily. Admiral Sir George Byng was commander of the British fleet.

This painting of the battle shows the Spanish flagship Real San Felipe (centre) being bombarded by British ships. It was created after the battle, probably by Peter Monamy and Isaac Sailmaker, and now hangs in the UK's National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

Special balloons lift the cannon off the seabed. Considering their age the cannon are in good condition. Mr Tusa says the "exceptional" discovery enabled his team to pinpoint the location of the naval battle.

The recovery from the wreck is not yet over. The team are not sure what role this British vessel played in the fleet. It may have been supporting or supplying bigger warships.

Markings on the ironwork suggest that the guns were made by English craftsman Thomas Western (1624-1707). The find is intriguing because the losses on the British side are not well documented.