The exciting find was made by Padiham man Mr Dennis Butler, who discovered the ancient piece of tree root, which pre-dates dinosaurs by tens of millions of years, during a walk last month. It has been identified by experts at Towneley Hall.

Mr Butler (68), of Grove Lane, took the fossil to Towneley Hall Museum where the time period and species were confirmed.

It is part of a giant tree known as Sigillaria, which existed during the Carboniferous period, between 299 million and 359 million years ago. They grew up to 30m high and were one of the early fern trees, related to moss plants.

Mr Butler, who did not want to give the exact location of the fossil, said: "I have found fossils before but you don't expect to discover something like this, of this age, in Padiham.

"It amazes me that something so ancient can survive so long, just sitting next to a river. After I brought it home, I checked on the Internet and found it fitted in with the Carboniferous period. I took it to Towneley to get it checked and they confirmed it.

"I think I will keep it for the time being and then, maybe, pass it on to a museum if it is of any use to them. I think it is quite exciting to know fossils hundreds of millions of years old can be found in Padiham."