RENOWNED natural history film-maker Sir David Attenborough will be at the Dorset County Museum today to unveil an historic fossil discovered in Weymouth Bay.

Sir David will be at the Dorchester museum as the giant jaws of a pliosaur, a huge marine reptile that roamed the seas 155million years ago, go on display.

The fossil was discovered by fossil hunter Kevan Sheehan between 2003 and 2008 after a landslide washed out the fossil bones.

Sir David, who has been the voice of natural history programmes on the BBC for more than 50 years, will help unveil the pliosaur fossil before it goes on display to the general public tomorrow.

The specimen was purchased by Dorset County Council's museums service, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund Collecting Cultures programme and significant funding from Dorset and Devon county councils.

Over the last six months the Jurassic Coast team and the Dorset County Museum have been working together to produce the display showcasing the fossilised skull, which is 95 per cent complete.

Director of the County Museum Jon Murden said: “We are delighted to house such a world-class discovery at Dorset County Museum and the Weymouth Bay pliosaur is now a fitting centrepiece in our ever-popular Jurassic Coast gallery.”