Britain will protect an enemy warship the Royal Navy sank 350 years ago, it has emerged.

A mysterious wreck off the coast of Eastbourne, which has been given special protection under UK law, has been identified as a Dutch vessel which caused havoc in the Channel during the 17th century.

Experts have revealed that the ship that now lies 100 feet below the surface is the Klein Hollandia, which took part in major battles in the Second Anglo-Dutch war before being boarded by English forces and destroyed in 1672.

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Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “The identification of the Klein Hollandia offers a glimpse back into the seventeenth century, giving us a chance to learn more about the maritime history of this period and to uncover treasures which have been underwater for hundreds of years.

Read more: The Telegraph