PUPILS at a primary school near Trowbridge will turn back the clocks to do battle in a Roman shield design competition.

Children in Years 3 and 4 at Staverton Primary School, which is near a site where Roman remains were found, have been taking part in the competition as part of their history lessons.

Headteacher Bruce Douglas said: “Romans are part of the National Curriculum, and we have been lucky that we have a site so near us.

“The children had already made scale models of shields, so this fitted in nicely with what they were doing.”

He added: “These things show that history is alive and around us, and not just a dry, dusty subject.”

The competition is being run by housing developer Persimmon Homes Wessex. The designs will be sent for judging in January.

Roman artefacts were discovered at the site near New Terrace in Staverton when the developers began work in 2007. The discovery of several skeletons led archaeologists to believe that part of the site was used as a cemetary. Coins, pottery, and the remains of some buildings were also found.

The artefacts were removed by archaeologists and will be displayed permanently in Trowbridge Museum once research work is finished.