THE first evidence that the Romans once settled in what is now the county town of North Yorkshire has been unearthed by water engineers.

Artefacts dating back to the second-century AD have been found during work to lay new water mains near Northallerton.

Objects including roof tiles, ceramics, metal and some bones were discovered near Ainderby Steeple during a £2.6m project to lay mains from Ainderby pumping station to Bullamoor service reservoir.

Archaeologist Simon Tomson, of Northern Archaeological Associates, said the find indicated a Roman farmstead had once stood on the site.

He said: "We found what was left of an agricultural building, probably a barn.

"Also discovered during the course of the dig were roof tiles, ceramics, some bones and a steel-yard which is a metal beam used in weighing grain.

"In terms of historical importance this find is significant as it's the first indication that Romans were here. It adds another dot to the map."

When Yorkshire Water is involved in schemes that involve digging, the company appoints archaeologists to carry out a watching brief and on this occasion, the specialist's eye was attracted to a piece of masonry which he believed deserved proper investigation.

"I was called in and soon realised it was from the Roman era, dating back to between the second and fourth century AD," said Mr Tomson.

"A team was quickly pulled together and for the last three weeks we have been working on the site. The finds have now been catalogued and sent to various experts around the country."

Yorkshire Water project manager Dean Williamson said water engineers had worked around the archaeologists and the dig had not delayed the scheme, which is due to be completed in December.

He added: "This is the first time anything has been found on one of my projects and it's been very exciting.

"It's not everyday Roman artefacts get discovered when we are laying new mains."

l Earlier this year Yorkshire Water engineers found a skeleton in a shallow grave in East Yorkshire and experts later confirmed they had found a Roman settlement dating back to 400 AD.