STARTLING new evidence of life in prehistoric times has been uncovered by archaeologists in a race against time to piece together part of North Yorkshire's past.

The English Heritage team working on Whitby Headland have found the first signs of a permanent Iron Age settlement on the dramatic outcrop.

The archaeologists are attempting to find all they can before parts of the headland fall victim to coastal erosion.

Engineers predict that 25 to 35 metres of the feature could vanish over the next 20 years.

In their latest excavation, they have unexpectedly found the remains of an ancient round-house, perhaps dating as far back as the first or second century BC.

Although prehistoric artefacts have been found before on the headland, the round-house - 11 metres in diameter - is the first sign of domestic settlement form the period.

"It is a startling new discovery and puts a whole new light on the headland's history," said English heritage archaeologist Tony Wilmott.

"It was found in an area of the headland we've not previously investigated, throwing up yet another tantalising insight into Whitby's rich past.

"Next to the house we also unearthed a much later Anglian work area, confirming that the site has a long history of use."

The round-house would originally have been made of wood, straw and possibly turf, but all that remains now is a circular trench and post-holes.

A priority for the current nine-week investigation - involving 34 archaeologists - has been to find new information on the Anglo-Saxon period, during which the first abbey was founded.

Previous digs have suggested that the town was a thriving commercial and religious centre, rather than an isolated Dark Ages outpost.

The public will get the chance to see some of the relics found, and meet archaeologists, at a free open day next Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.