A ROMAN well discovered during archaeological investigations for the A46 dualling scheme has been donated to a local heritage group.

The well was unearthed earlier this year close to the ancient monument of Margidunum, a Roman town on the outskirts of Bingham.

The find has helped archaeologists gain a better understanding of the historic town.

The stonework was carefully removed last week by specialist archaeological contractors Cotswold Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, following agreement from English Heritage and Notts County Council's archaeology department.

It has now been given to Bingham Heritage Trail Association, which plans to reconstruct it and make it available for people to see.

Highways Agency project manager Geoff Bethel said: "For the Highways Agency, archaeological surveys are an important part of developing a road scheme.

"The well was an exciting find. We appreciate there has been a lot of interest from local people so we are delighted to have permission to excavate it and donate it to Bingham Heritage Trail Association."

Peter Allen, chairman of the association, said: "We have been working on a project for the last five years researching the history of settlement in Bingham and have found out quite a lot about the town in Roman times, but there is nothing visible anywhere.

"When we heard about the discovery of the well it became very important to us to be able to rebuild it somewhere in Bingham so people can get a feel for the town's Roman heritage. We are thrilled."

Notts County Council's senior archaeological officer, Ursilla Spence, said the discovery during A46 road scheme, between Newark and Widmerpool, had helped archeologists with their understanding of Margidunum.

"We thought it was a relatively small settlement but the fact that the welI was found outside what we thought were the boundaries has opened our eyes to the size of the town," she said.

"The well was found underneath a Roman road so we have been able to deduce that the Romans would have covered over the well to provide access into a high status residence."

Bingham Heritage Trail Association were given photographs of the well before it was dismantled and each piece was carefully numbered and labelled to help with the reconstruction process.

The find in the summer has not delayed work on the A46 dualling project as work was able to continue elsewhere.