Bones believed to be up to 800,000 years old have been discovered on the North Norfolk coast. 

They are thought to be that of a straight tusked elephant.  

The bones were discovered at 9am on Tuesday at West Runton by amateur palaeontologist John Clayden from High Kelling. 

READ MORE: Woman discovers two-million-year-old mammoth bone on beach

John Claydon and Dan Chamberlain with one of the larger bones found todayJohn Clayden and Dan Chamberlain with one of the larger bones found today (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) Mr Clayden said: “I had come down to pick up some furniture and I was a bit early.

 “I came down here to have a look along the cliff because often the bad weather brings things out.

“I was wandering along the beach and saw it.

"The ankle bone and a bit of vertebra.

"I was over the moon when I found it. 

“I went to get Johnathan and Dan to come and help me."

READ MORE: Finder of West Runton mammoth skeleton calls for permanent reminder to prehistoric beast

Dan Chamberlin, John Clayden and Johnathan StewartDan Chamberlin, John Clayden and Johnathan Stewart (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) Mr Steward said: “It was amazing.

“The more we dug the more there was, and they all connected up.

Mr Chamberlain said: "A lot of finds would be lost if it was not for amateurs. 

"Because we have the time to go out and look. 

Mr Clayden added: "Its a rescue really, because the tide will get them.

“Over the last two years we have been finding little bits and pieces of it.

"I have been looking around this area since 1982.   

The amateur team plan to continue to dig out the rest of the bones. 

West Runton has been a goldmine for fossil hunters with a famous find from 1990.

Margaret Hems uncovered a large 700,000-year-old pelvic bone of a mammoth protruding from the bottom of the cliffs on December 13, 1990 with her late husband Harold.

More bones were discovered in 1991, and in 1995 a three-month excavation found 85pc of the beast's skeleton – making it the most complete example of its species ever found in the world.

Hobbyist fossil hunter Michelle Smith discovered half of a mammoth pelvis buried in crag on West Runton beach in early 2020.

In 2016 Treasure hunter Niall Thorogood discovered a baby mammal tooth.

An illustration of what the West Runton steppe mammoth would have looked likeAn illustration of what the West Runton steppe mammoth would have looked like (Image: Dr David M.G. Waterhouse) Flashback to 2003 of a cast of mammoth bone in NorwichFlashback to 2003 of a cast of mammoth bone in Norwich (Image: Newsquest) The GoGo mammoth sculpture at West Runton, one of two sponsored by North Norfolk District Council as part of the trail.The GoGo mammoth sculpture at West Runton, one of two sponsored by North Norfolk District Council as part of the trail. (Image: Louise O'Shea / West Runton Beach Cafe)