YOUNG history detectives came face to face with their past when they helped at an archaeological dig.

Pupils from Hartlepool's English Martyrs School were supervised by Tees Archaeology service as part of their school studies on the Iron Age/Romano-British village settlement in the grounds of the town's Summerhill outdoor sports and conservation site.

The historically valuable site was accidentally uncovered in 1963, when the ground was being prepared for the children's school playing field.

Since then, several digs have taken place, revealing the remains of ditches and roundhouses and pottery and coins.

The current project is in its third year and is part of a five-year study to piece together more details of the children's ancestors 2,000 years ago.

The children pieced together fragments of pottery and sorted through other finds on their field trip yesterday.

A public open day on the excavation site is to be held next month - details from Tony Davison on (01429) 284584