ARCHAEOLOGISTS have discovered what they believe is the first major evidence of Alcester's Roman fort to the south of the main town - and residents will have their chance to see the dramatic discoveries themselves.

For years, archaeologists have known a Roman fort existed under part of modern Alcester but had very little physical evidence.

But since July, a team from Archaeological Investigations Ltd of Hereford has been digging in Bleachfield Street on the site of a proposed housing development.

And now it seems the excavation, funded by Laing Homes Limited Midlands, has proved amazingly productive.

With a combination of shovel-work and "resistivity" ground surveys, two - possibly three - deep parallel ditches have been located at the southern end of the site which are likely to be the defences of a Roman fort surrounded by a rampart topped with a wooden palisade.

The rampart would have been made of earth and gravel excavated from the ditches and a concentration of large holes and trenches found on site would have contained wooden posts which kept the bank stable.

Within the rampart, gravelled road surfaces have been found.

Archaeological Investigations Ltd excavation manager, Niall Oakey, said "At the moment we have not identified any specific buildings within the fort and we're not sure how long it was in use.

"We hope to find more information in the remaining time we have but already this site has proved very exciting.

"It is always very nice to find the physical remains that confirm a theory."

After the fort ceased to be used, much of the site seems to have been peripheral to the town, located to the south of the main centre.

The fort ditches were backfilled and pits dug, probably for the disposal of rubbish. Large quantities of broken pottery have also been found.

It appears part of the site was also used as a cemetery and seven cremation burial pots have been found so far.

Full burials in graves also took place there, some of the graves containing small pots. So far, five adult burials have been found and several infants.

Mr Oakey said: "Scattered finds of single human bones lead us to believe there were more burials but a lot of earth was removed from the site when factories were built here in the 20th century.

"Some of the surviving skeletons lay only a matter of inches below the floors of the factories and others may have been removed without record.

"This disturbance has also removed almost all traces of activity on the site since the Roman period. All that remained were two stone-lined kilns and a couple of wells."

A spokesman for Laing Homes Midlands said: "It's exciting for Laing Homes to be involved in this important excavation and to have been able to confirm the existence of Roman remains.

"An archaeological dig like this is of great importance to the area and we're pleased to help. The new homes that will be built here are carrying on a long tradition of settlement in Alcester."

Small excavations in Bleachfield Street took place in the sixties and seventies but this latest excavation has proved to be the most exciting for years.

The name Alcester itself means "Fort on the River Alne".

There are also known to be Roman remains on Primrose Hill to the south of Alcester and bronze items have cropped up during field walking exercises in the area previously.

l The public have a chance to see the discoveries on Wednesday, October 5, with free guided tours at 11am, 1pm and 3.30pm.

Parking is not available on the site, which will not be open except at the times of the walks. In the event of wet weather, the tours may be cancelled.