Archaeologists have discovered some of the oldest human footprints in the world during a dig on a beach on the Norfolk coast.

The prints, thought to be more than 800,000 years old, were found in silt on the beach at Happisburgh. Scientists believe the prints, which were probably made by five different people, are direct evidence of the earliest known humans in northern Europe.

Only three other sets of footprints, discovered in Africa, are more ancient.

Dr Nick Ashton, from the British Museum, said: "They're without doubt the oldest human footprints in Europe and some of the oldest in the world."