HOLIDAY crowds have been getting to grips with some truly ancient history at the largest festival of geology ever held in Europe.

Earth Alert 2002, which ends this evening, has had thousands of people flocking to the Spa Complex in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

The event includes exhibitions from the extractive and petroleum industries, as well as the British Geological Survey.

A team from the Natural History Museum brought a fossil roadshow to the event, complete with a living Jurassic jungle and dinosaur pop-ups.

And more than 50 regional geology groups, government agencies and rock, fossil and mineral dealers are also exhibiting.

Councillor David Jeffels, Scarborough Borough Council's cabinet member for tourism, said: "This area's fantastic geology has been attracting scientists for hundreds of years, and this event serves to help to inform people about the geology under their feet."