A chemist who worked on testing of the Shroud of Turin says new analysis of the fibre indicates the cloth that some say was the burial linen of Jesus could be up to 3,000 years old.

The Shroud of Turin, believed by some to be Christ's burial cloth, is much older than previously thought, according to a new study.

Experts performed a top-secret restoration of the Shroud of Turin, removing centuries-old patches and replacing a backing sewn centuries ago on to what some say was the burial cloth of Jesus, church officials announced today.