AFTER a quarter of a century of nagging from his wife, Brian Harrison finally got round to moving his garden shed.

While he was aware of an air raid shelter in his garden, he was not prepared for what else lay beneath the shrubbery - Roman remains, which have caused a frisson of excitement in the archaeological world.

Northern Archaeological Group secretary Brenda Ludvigsen said last night: "We have unearthed a good quality cobbled area that ran next to a Roman house. It at least doubles the size of the known Roman settlement of Chester-le-Street."

Mr Harrison, who fitting ly lives in Roman Avenue in the County Durham town, said: "My wife has been trying for the last 25 years to get me to move the garden shed but I have resisted it - until now. When I found the shelter, I called in the archaeological group to see how far it extended."

The find has been confirmed as Roman, through the discovery of fragments of pottery and flint, as well a round ball which could have been used as slingshot.

Chester-le-Street was an important stop-over for soldiers marching from York to Hadrian's Wall. The fort was supplied with provisions by boats sailing up the River Wear from Sunderland.