For the first time in 142 years, a new species of armoured-body dinosaur has been discovered on the Isle of Wight.

Belonging to a group of plant-eating dinosaurs known as ankylosaurs, its remains were found in the 'Wessex Formation', on the Island's southwest coastline.

The new species has been named vectipelta barretti – after Professor Paul Barrett, who has worked at the Natural History Museum in London for 20 years.

It is the second armoured dinosaur to be found on the Island, with the first being polacanthus foxii – which was unearthed in 1865.

Stuart Pond, a researcher at Natural History Museum’s Department of Earth Sciences, said: “For virtually 142 years, all ankylosaur remains from the Isle of Wight have been assigned to polacanthus foxii, a famous dinosaur from the island.

"Now all of those finds need to be revisited because we’ve described this new species.”

Vectipelta barretti differs from its predecessor, polacanthus foxii, in its neck and back bones.

The analysis also shows both species have different pelvic structures, and vectipelta barretti had more blade-like spiked armour.

The researchers said rocks from the Wessex Formation and the Isle of Wight are “hugely important” in understanding more about how dinosaurs went extinct.