ARCHAEOLOGISTS are hailing the success of a dig at the site of an Iron Age settlement.

Professional and amateur archaeologists have discovered evidence of a 2,500-year-old settlement, including pottery and farm animal bones, during a two-week excavation.

The "time team" at Foxrush Farm, just outside Redcar, has also uncovered a ditch system and enclosure area.

The dig finishes tomorrow and on Sunday there will be a display of the finds during an open day from 10am to 4pm, together with storytelling, re-enactments, woodland crafts and Iron Age clay pot making.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council countryside officer Jo Fearey said: "It's been very interesting. I've had the job of taking parties of schoolchildren around and they seemed to really enjoy it.

"I've also done a bit of excavation work and the archaeological team has established that there was definitely a settlement here, which is great."

The open day will be the last chance to view the excavation, organised by Tees Archaeology and Redcar and Cleveland council, before back-filling begins on Monday.

The public is advised to use bus stops on Kirkleatham Lane or Roseberry Road and car parking has been arranged at West Redcar School.

The site is known from aerial photographs and a recent geophysical survey had located a number of possible ditches and an area of burning.

An exhibition of finds will be displayed at neighbouring Kirk-leatham Hall museum next year.