THE layout of the prehistoric stone circle and the village of Avebury is a recent creation the work of one man.

Few people beyond the village know that "marmalade'' millionaire and playboy Alexander Keiller spent millions of pounds of his own money transforming Avebury in the 1930s.

His incredible story will be told on national television this week as part of the BBC's Home Ground series.

Keiller excavated the circle of stones, re-erecting those that had fallen over and cut down trees that hid the ancient ditches. Then he turned his attention to the village itself, first buying then demolishing the villagers' houses that hid the stones.

Recently a long-lost can of pre-war black and white film was found, at the back of a villager's wardrobe, which chronicles life in the village at the time of Keiller's intervention.

Thursday's documentary includes a special screening of the film, where some of Avebury's elderly residents are able to recognise themselves along with family and friends.

BBC spokesman John Ramsden said: "The film is screened in the village hall.

"The flickering images of themselves as children playing amongst the ancient stones transports them back to a pre-war Avebury.

"They recall how the millionaire's vision transformed Avebury, dividing the village physically and the villagers emotionally."

Avebury is one of Britain's World Heritage Sites and is visited by thousands of people every year.

But the tale of Keiller's legacy emerges, Thursday's programme raises challenging questions about how to safeguard historic landscapes without riding roughshod over the interests of the people who live and work in them.

Home Ground will be screened on Thursday on BBC2 at 7.30pm.