AN original Roman road to Stretton Grandison has been unearthed at Stretton Sugwas by archaeologists.

In 1999, Herefordshire Council's archaeological team announced survey results showing that Stretton Grandison was probably a sizeable Roman settlement of around 2,000 inhabitants.

The conclusion was reached from the study of aerial photographs and on-site investigations.

Now the newly discovered road appears to give further evidence of the settlement's importance, almost 2,000 years ago.

The cobbled stretch of road was found, appropriately enough, under and along a stretch of highway at Stretton Sugwas that is still called "The Roman Road".

Archaeologists believe the original road ran from the known Roman town of Kentchester, near Leintwar-dine, to the Stretton Grand-ison settlement.

The find was made during a routine archaeological survey, ahead of road works to the modern highway.

As well as the road, archaeologists found cremated human remains, luxury Roman pottery, fragments of Roman glass and iron waste from furnaces.

Julian Cotton, Hereford-shire Council's archaeological advisor, said: "Archaeo-logical surveys and investigations are often undertaken by Herefordshire Council to ensure that sites of historical significance are preserved or documented for future generations.

"In this case, because of the sensitive nature of some of the remains, it is particularly important that thorough investigation takes place, and this was anticipated in planning the road improvements."