THE first evidence that the Romans once settled in a part of the North has been unearthed by water engineers.

Artefacts dating from the Second Century have been found during work to lay water mains near Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Roof tiles, ceramics, metal and 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, a metal beam used in weighing grain.

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

When Yorkshire Water is involved in schemes that require digging, the company appoints archaeologists to examine the sites as work takes place.

And on this occasion, the on-site specialist was attracted to a piece of masonry which he believed deserved further investigation.

Mr Tomson said: "I was called in and soon realised it was from the Roman era, dating back to between the Second and Fourth Century.

"A team was quickly pulled together and, for the past 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 engineers had worked around the archaeologists, and the dig had not delayed the scheme, which is due to end in December.

He said: "This is the first time anything has been found on one of my projects and it has been very exciting. It is not every day Roman artefacts get discovered when we are laying new mains."

* Earlier this year, Yorkshire Water engineers found a skeleton in a shallow grave in east Yorkshire.

Experts later confirmed they had found a Roman settlement dating from 400AD.