One of the most iconic fossils at Manchester Museum is the giant plesiosaur called Percy.
Percy was discovered by Manchester University Students in 1960 when they were on a field trip looking for fossils.
The students thought they had found a belemnite when a lecturer Fred Broadhurst realised it was something quite special.
There was a high chance the fossil was going to be destroyed by the waves. So they collected as much as they could and went back to collect the rest shortly afterwards.
They wrapped large blocks of rock in plaster jackets and then excavated the fossil safely back at the University. Percy has been on display in pride of place for the last few decades and is classified by scientists as a 'holotype' a reference for its species and is studied by researchers from around the world.