VISITORS to Summerhill in Hartlepool are being offered the chance to travel back in time.

The invitation has come from new landscape interpretation officer Claire Smith.

Ms Smith, a history teacher who has worked in various museums, said: "We know the site was occupied for about 600 years from the Iron Age to Roman/British times.

"Previous excavations have found the remains of several roundhouses, which were probably inhabited by Celts, and also parts of a rectangular Roman building."

Ms Smith will be using her teaching experience to work with local schools and believes a hands-on approach is the most effective way of bringing alive the site's history.

She said: "I am hoping to get some trenches dug so people can take part in their own archaeological explorations.

"I am also hoping to establish an area where we can grow some traditional crops, including a type of wheat called emmer, mill the flour and even bake bread."

On Sunday, June 23, Summerhill will host an archaeological open day.

The event will give people a chance to learn more about the site's history with experts from Tees Archaeology. The living history group Axholmr will be recreating 5th century life.