A team from the University of Central Lancashire have discovered Ribchester Roman Fort was inhabited long after it was thought abandoned.

Ribchester was established in the first century as a fort and a civilian settlement. Apparently the civilian settlement continued after that of the military occupation.

“We believe that many of the soldiers had families and relatives in the town so when the majority of the Roman army presence left, it is possible a lot of them stopped taking command from their officers and settled there.” Dr James Morris said