The remains of a medieval merchant ship discovered just off the Kent coast are set to be excavated.

History buffs discovered the wreck on the foreshore at Tankerton Beach, near Whitstable, in April last year.

Following a survey of the remains, experts estimate the ship dates back to the late 16th or early 17th century, and was a carvel-built single-masted merchant ship of up to 200 tons.

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Mark Harrison, director of Timescapes, said: "Our group of volunteers was looking for exploded World War II pillboxes along the Kent coast.

"Adjacent to a lump of exploded concrete, we were amazed to see the timbers of a ship appearing out of the sand.

"We reported the find to Historic England and are pleased that what turned out to be a medieval wreck has been given protection and that this excavation could tell us more about its story."

Wessex Archaeology was brought in by Historic England to research the remains,which are exposed in mudflats when the tide is low.

It has now been commissioned to excavate the hull of the ship to see what treasures lie beneath the surface.

Toby Gane, project manager from Wessex Archaeology, said: "This is a rare opportunity to investigate the remains of an early vessel. We know from our earlier work that this vessel has an interesting mix of construction features and we have been finding out more about it during this excavation."

A spokesperson from Historic England said: "The Tankerton wreck has been given protection because it is the only known surviving Medieval shipwreck in south-east England. It gives us evidence of Tudor/early Stuart shipbuilding techniques and the late medieval copperas industry along the north Kent coast.

"It is possible that the Tankerton Beach wreck was engaged in transporting copperas before being abandoned at the coast edge in an area of what was once tidal salt marsh."

Also known as green vitriol, copperas were largely used in the textile industry as a dye fixative and in the manucature of ink.

Historians understand a copperas works has been at Whitstable since the mid-16th century.