Vitally important old fossils found at El Médano are to be given extra protection. The sismitas can be found near the Red Mountain and Leocadio Machado beach. These areas are already afforded the maximum protection but Grandadilla council now proposes to strengthen this.

Scientists say similar sismitas can only be found in Costa Rica but there have already been cases where the Médano examples have been disturbed because there are no markers or signs.

Some of them were destroyed in the 1970s when stone was remove to create the south motorway.

The fossils are believed to date back as far as 10,000 years ago and are the relics of a massive earthquake when sand was compressed with water. The result was thousands of tubes and dikes.

Just recently, officials visited the area to see the sismitas for themselves and local councillor Jacobo Donate stressed their importance. He said the council had asked the Tenerife Cabildo in 2004 to define the areas. He also stressed the need to educate the public more about the presence of the sismitas and how they can help in their protection.

Granadilla council wants signs improved and is pressing for greater scientific knowledge and conservation. A scientific forum is already being planned for September.