GUIDED tours will show off Swindon's spectacular Roman archaeological site.

The 1,800-year-old temple complex, discovered at Abbey Meads in April 1997, is one of the greatest Roman religious complexes in the country.

And now the people of Swindon will have the chance to take part in a free tour of the 10-acre site in the company of county archaeologist Roy Canham, as part of National Archaeology Day on Sunday, July 23.

Mr Canham said: I will be taking groups of about 40 people around the site throughout the day and pointing out sites of interest along the way.

As far as we are aware, the site looks like a place where people might have made pilgrimages to. There are similar sites in Germany and France but this is the most important one in Britain.

He explained that future plans include developing the site as a field study centre to demonstrate archaeological and geophysical techniques, both as a schools resource and for the public.