A chicken has unearthed an ancient artefact at a historic village in Stansted.

Staff at Mountfitchet Castle were stunned yesterday (Thursday) when one of the resident chickens scratched up a rowel from a medieval Knight’s spur.

A visitor to the attraction in Stansted witnessed the event and handed the item into the visitor centre.

After a quick wash, the owner of the attraction Jeremy Goldsmith quickly identified it as a part of a spur as worn by Knights over 1,000 years ago.

The rowel will be put out on display for all visitors to see over the Easter holidays.