Ancient forest dating back 7,000 YEARS revealed after Storm Emma uncovers secret beneath
THE sands of time have been washed away at Redcar - revealing the petrified forest which lies beneath.
The ancient forest was unearthed after the recent bad weather removed sand from a beach in Redcar
Last week's bad weather and heavy tides removed swathes of sand from the beach.
And it means that at low tide, the remains of a vast forest of birch, oak, beech and sycamore trees can be seen more clearly than for some time.
The first written account of the submerged forest at Redcar dates from 1871, when even preserved red deer antlers and wild boar tusks were found.
Extreme weather uncovers ancient forest on North East beach
The remains of long-forgotten wrecked boats have also been spotted from time to time.
But it is the petrified tree stumps which are the most obvious evidence of a time thousands of years ago.
The forest - part of a huge swathe of trees stretching for several miles from Hartlepool and down the coast - is thought to be at least 7,000 years old.
The first written account of the submerged forest at Redcar dates from 1871
But the passage of time has seen minerals in the wood turn to stone, hence the "petrified" tag.
And while it can be seen intermittently, depending on weather conditions, it is rarely as visible at Redcar as it is now.