THE County Museum is promising this year's National Archaeology Day, which takes place later this month, will be bigger and better than ever.

The museum, at Hartlebury, is hoping many young potential archaeologists will come along to the event, which is being held on Sunday, July 21, between 1pm and 5pm.

Favourites from previous years including sandpit digs for reproduction Roman coins, a brass rubbings workshop, with Roman legionary armour to handle and try on. There will also be "medal detecting" with local expert Phil Harriman.

Pettiea, a Roman board game, can be played, and mosaic patterns can be created on new magnetic boards, while in the orchard, archaeologist David Kendrick will be running a Pot Sherd Washing workshop with recent finds made by field walking groups.

Also on the day, some of the museum's most precious archaeological objects will be on display including 9th Century silver coins, a 10th Century Anglo-Viking gold ring and a very rare Charles I half crown, which was actually minted at Hartlebury Castle during the Civil Wars.

There will also be the popular Chaddesley Corbett Roman coin hoard, which is a collection of more than 300 bronze coins all dated between 290 and 318AD, all in a remarkable state of preservation.

For National Archaeology Day there will be free admission for all members of the Young Archaeologist's Club who present their membership cards at reception.

For adults, the admission price is £2.50, £1.20 for children and concessions, and a family ticket for up to two adults and three children for £6.50.

Car parking is free and there will be refreshments and souvenirs available.