AN iron age settlement has been unearthed in the North-East after gas engineers stumbled across the site while constructing a gas pipeline.

Archaeologists yesterday completed a two-week dig on the outskirts of the east Cleveland village of Brotton, where they have uncovered roundhouses and farmsteads dating back more than 2,000 years.

The discovery of the site has thrilled archaeologists in the region.

They have been looking for evidence of the settlement ever since an iron age field system was unearthed during the construction of the Brotton and Skelton bypass last year.

The dig has uncovered six roundhouses and large fragments of pottery and bone, as well as a quernstone used for grinding corn.

The dig has cost £20,000 but has been funded by Transco, which suspended its gas works to allow the archeologists to continue their excavations.

Robin Daniels, Tees Archaeology Officer, said it was a very interesting site.

"It is something we haven't seen in this area for the best part of 20 years. Road builders uncovered an iron age field system during bypass construction this year, but despite geophysical surveys, we could not locate the settlement that was associated with it. Transco's find is a real stroke of luck."

Andy Irwin, project officer for Transco, said the settlement had been well hidden.

"It's standard practice for us to conduct magnetic surveys of areas of potential archaeological interest before starting work on a major scheme like this," he said.

"But in this case nothing showed up until we went a step further and stripped off the topsoil for a closer look. Tees Archaeology is now happy for us to continue work on the site, and we hope to resume work building a pressure reduction station on Monday.