A historic stone moved in ignorance by a council has been put back in its rightful position.

Brighton and Hove City Council moved a boulder in Wild Park marking the boundary between ancient parishes to grass surrounding St Peter's Church, Brighton, to deter footballers from playing there.

Historians were horrified as the stone had been in its place for hundreds of years and was even marked on Ordnance Survey maps.

The council did not tell residents what it was doing and why and when confronted said it was not aware the rock was a boundary stone.

A spokeswoman said yesterday: "Once we realised the historical significance of the stone, we put it back in its original position.

"The work was done at no extra cost to the taxpayer."

Stuart Mason, of the Brighton-based Antiquarian Society, said: "I am obviously pleased it has been put back.

"It has been put back the wrong way round and has some slight damage but at least it's in the right place.