A 5-year-old English girl accidentally "unearthed" a huge and rare ancient snail shell dating back to 160 million years.

Baby Emily Baldry found the intact fossil shell on Cotswold Water Park, Gloucestershire, England, in March 2010.

The 5-year-old girl dug snail shell 160 million years images 1
Fossil shell 160 million years

The 40cm-diameter fossil shell is the remainder of the Odysseus mollusca Rieneckia living in the ancient ocean floor in the Jurassic period 160 million years ago.

The 5-year-old girl dug snail shell 160 million years images 2
Baby Emily, now 6 years old, and a rare fossil shell.

This fossilized sea creature has a spiral shape with small hairs, 2.5cm long, to help it avoid predators.

The 5-year-old girl dug snail shell 160 million years images 3

This rare fossil shell was sent to archaeologists to restore soon after it was discovered and now it has been displayed at the Gateway Information Center near Cirencester.