Cave art dating from the Ice Age has been preserved at a Derbyshire site.

The site, at Creswell Crags, has also seen the building of a bridleway, at a cost of £200,000 to allow easy passage from a visitor centre to the caves.

Archaeology as old as 50,000 years was found at the site, which is viewed as one of the most important examples of its kind. The caves, on the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border, contain engravings of bison, birds and horses from the last Ice Age, 12,000 years ago.

Derbyshire County Councillor Brian Lucas said: “We recognise the importance of preserving and enhancing such a unique archaeological site and great care was taken to build a bridleway in keeping with the natural surroundings of the crags.” The art was discovered by archaeologists in 2003.

Flint and bone tools have also been found. It is believed stone-age dwellers used the tools to hunt mammoth and deer.