The Isle of Man College degree students were on a field trip in Kirk Michael with Dr Peter Davey, director of the Centre for Manx Studies and reader in archaeology at the University of Liverpool, when they found the remains of the Irish Elk in the cliffs.

The exact age of the animal isn't known, but it is thought it lived 11,000 years ago.

Amazed by the find, Dr Davey said: 'I just scraped the surface of the fallen cliff section, which was in a block that recently slid down the cliff, and uncovered an orange streak which, on further investigation, turned out to be antlers.'

Amid fears they would be crushed if the block collapsed, the antlers were removed.

They are being cleaned, examined and reconstructed by Dr Philippa Tomlinson, a specialist in fossil and archaeological bone and plant remains at the Centre for Manx Studies.

It is thought the Island remained suitable for giant deer hundreds of years later than surrounding islands.

Dr Silvia Gonzalez, at Liverpool John Moores University, is keen to date the giant deer, dubbed Erica the Elk by the students.