A permanent metal plaque marking one of the richest sites for Ice Age fossils in the world was unveiled in Ilford on Saturday.

The plaque at the Ilford Methodist Church in Ilford Lane marks the site of the Uphall Pit, where a treasure trove of remains were discovered in the 1800s including the most complete mammoth skull in the country.

It was unveiled by Professor Adrian Lister, a palaeontologist with the Natural History Museum, who joined the British Pakistani Christian Association who funded it.

It replaces a previous plaque which was stolen last year and a temporary plastic one which was unveiled in July.

Wilson Chowdhry, the association’s chairman, said: “We’re very pleased with the final plaque and it was great that so many people turned up.”