Scientists have identified an unassuming brown pebble, found in southern England, as the first known example of fossilized dinosaur brain tissue.

The fossil, displays distinct similarities to the brains of modern-day crocodiles and birds.

'The chances of preserving brain tissue are incredibly small, so the discovery of this specimen is astonishing,' said co-author Dr Alex Liu from Cambridge.

Structures that could represent tissues from the brain cortex (its outer layer of neural tissue), interwoven with delicate capillaries, also appear to be present.

'As we cant see the lobes of the brain itself, we cant say for sure how big this dinosaurs brain was,' said Norman.