THE might of the Roman Empire has returned to haunt a village football team desperate to find a new pitch.

Bowes Football Club fears the legionnaires who arrived to garrison the site of their village, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, almost 2000 years ago, may yet scupper their plans.

For the team has already spent thousands of pounds on a survey to locate the best site - only to discover that Roman remains lie beneath the favoured meadow.

Club manager Geoff Thwaites said: "I can't believe it. We just don't know where we can put the pitch. Everywhere seems to be of historical value around Bowes."

During the Roman occupation the village was the site of a fort with the unfortunate sounding name of Lavatrae. It was classed as an important Empire stronghold along the road between Scotch Corner and Penrith in Cumbria - the present day A66.

The area's historical significance has now returned to haunt the club, which is seeking planning permission to create a new pitch close to the village hall and its changing facilities.

The application has now been deferred by Teesdale District Council to allow time for a further archaeological investigation by Durham County Council.

County archaeologist Niall Hammond said the site, to the west of the road to Gimonby, was nationally significant, a view endorsed by English Heritage.

He said: "This is a really difficult one, because you can sympathise with both sides. But this is a really important site, and in its Roman heyday Bowes was a really thriving, cosmopolitan place, and its remains have to be preserved."

The fort was built by legionaries in about 80AD and was home to 400 soldiers for several centuries.

In its heyday, it was surrounded by a "vicus", or village, which had taverns, brothels, traders and blacksmiths.

Iron Age and Bronze Age artefacts have also been uncovered in Bowes, which also boasts the remains of a Norman castle.

Mr Thwaites said: "This is a really important part of our community, and it would be devastating if we were unable to put a pitch right at the heart of it.