A NEW display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History has been fascinating dinosaur lovers.

‘Out of the Deep’, now a permanent exhibit in the Parks Road establishment - features two large plesiosaur skeletons.

The extinct marine reptiles swam in warm seas during the Jurassic Period - 165 million years ago - around the area that is now Britain.

One of the two skeletons, a short-necked plesiosaur, or 'pliosaur', was found near Yarnton, just 8km away from the museum.

The other, a long-necked plesiosaur, was uncovered in a quarry near Peterborough in 2014.

Both specimens are on full display for the first time, according to the museum, which says they are 'rare and remarkably complete'.

The animals are thought to have eaten belemnites, which are close relatives of squid.

It took two weeks create the display.