THE remains of the most northerly surviving villa complex in the Roman Empire are being opened to the public this weekend.

The ancient settlement, thought to date as far back as the Iron Age, is part of Persimmon Homes' Fairview development at Ingleby Barwick.

Archaeologists from Durham University, funded by Persimmon and English Heritage, have been digging on site since August and will continue their work until just before Christmas.

So far, they have uncovered the remains of a bath house and other buildings, as well as artefacts including pottery, nails, coins, a brooch, a fragment of an altar and a mill stone.

One of the most significant buildings will not be excavated, however, and will be preserved as a centre point for the housing development.

Peter Jordan, land and planning manager at Persimmon Homes North-East, said: "The site of the villa is being preserved as a village green area. What we've tried to do is plan the whole development around it."

Andrea Burgess, senior archaeologist with Persimmon's archaeological consultants, Scott Wilson, said the site was of international importance.

She added: "It has great significance. The survival of the stone work is very good and we've been able to get a lot of information from the site.

"One of the reasons English Heritage is so interested is the transitional period that the site covers and how the British responded to the Roman influence."

English Heritage is expected to produce a publication with maps and photographs telling the history of the complex once the archaeological investigation is completed.

The site, situated just off the newly-opened Myton Way link road between Ingleby Barwick and Preston Farm industrial estate, is open to the public tomorrow and on Sunday from 10am-3pm.