Amateur archaeologists have made an amazing discovery in a south London park - the remains of a previously undiscovered dinosaur.

The giant lizard - believed to be at least twice the size of a Tyrannosaurus Rex - was discovered by students in Nonsuch Park, Sutton.

And the beast is to be named the Cheamosaurus - in honour of the place it was found.

The group had been excavating the site of Nonsuch Palace on Friday when they stumbled across the bones.

But keen palaeontologist, Ross Geller, 19, immediately spotted they were from a dinosaur.

He said: "I've been studying palaeontology for several years, so I've seen quite a few dinosaur bones. At first I thought this might be a type of raptor but then I realised how large it was.

"I didn't think for a second though it would be the only one of its type ever found. I mean that's every palaeontologist's dream.

"Whoever said that archaeology was dull?"

John Hammond, a specialist for the British Museum, confirmed the find.

He said: "It's most remarkable. It's the first dinosaur ever to be found in Sutton and the first of its type to be found anywhere in the world.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Nonsuch Park becomes a Mecca for palaeontologists from across the globe.

According to Mr Hammond the beast is likely to have hunted smaller dinosaurs during the Jurassic era - between 206 and 144million years ago.

Once all the dinosaur's bones have been excavated the giant lizard will be reassembled and displayed in the park.

  • For the record: following enquiries from the Discovery Channel about this article, please note that this was an April Fool's story - Ed.