As a major archaeological dig continues on the former Shippam's factory site, it has emerged that a Roman road crossing the area – its existence was unknown until the excavation started – was no less than 10m wide, and two-way.
But the vehicles on it would have been ox-carts and chariots, rather than today's Volvos and Fords.
Discoveries are being made every day on the extensive site, which is to be developed for housing and shops by the Kier construction company, but the archaeological work still has a long way to go.
More than 100 Roman coins, mostly extremely small in size, are among the finds made by two local metal detector users, Donald Mountford and Seamus Lavery, who are helping the operation.

Report in the March 16 issue of the Observer