EXPERTS from television's Time Team have begun an investigation to try to reveal the mysteries of a village's Roman past.

A Channel 4 film crew is spending three days at Hardwick Park, in Sedgefield, County Durham, in the hope of finding evidence of Roman occupation.

Archaeologists from Durham County Council have joined the specialists in exploring 17 acres of the East Park for the programme fronted by Tony Robinson, better known as Baldrick from the Blackadder series.

County archaeologist Fiona Macdonald said: "The investigation is concentrating on trying to discover whether the site was a military one, to be compared with forts such as Binchester or Lanchester, or a civilian one where ordinary people went about their daily business.

"Features that are thought to be buildings, enclosures and trackways will be examined all with the help of local people and under the eye of TV cameras."

East Park was bought by Durham County Council last year with the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and forms part of a restoration of the Georgian Hardwick Park.

Mrs Macdonald said: "While the park restoration was in its design stage, archaeologists examining aerial photographs of the area spotted a series of intriguing crop marks.

"These marks are often the only visible signs of buried archaeological remains and at East Park, they spread over an area of around 17 acres.

"Field walking by local enthusiasts from Sedgefield Local History Society unearthed pottery that clearly dates from the Roman period and this exciting find may put Sedgefield firmly on the map of Roman Britain."