REMARKABLE evidence of Roman occupation has cast a shadow of uncertainty over a project destined to create 700 new jobs in Darlington.

Council chiefs were alarmed last week that a routine archaeological survey of the proposed Argos distribution centre on Faverdale Business Estate unearthed some startling finds.

High status Roman and Iron Age pottery suggests that there was a previously unknown military presence in County Durham.

John Buxton, director of development and the environment said: "It was a shock. My first reaction was how does that affect the Argos development.

"We also need to be able to judge the implications for future development on the business estate. We need to get the balance right between the need to further explore the archaeology and ultimately addressing development."

He said Argos had been "understanding and accommodating - but concerned.

"Anything unknown causes concern and adds risk until it is defined. Hopefully by the end of the week we will know what we are facing."

"The worst case scenario, which everyone is totally confident won't happen, is if they find something of such significance that it would be scheduled as an ancient monument.

"A lot of archaeologists would be eating their hats if that happened."

Mr Buxton said aerial pictures would be taken, as soon as the weather was right, to see what was revealed now that a layer of topsoil had been removed.

David Divers, project manager for Pre-Construct Archaeology, said: "This is incredibly exciting. There is little evidence of Romans in County Durham and very little known about them. This is a piece of the jigsaw and gives us some idea what was going on.

"But I can't see any reason why this should hold up the development. The site is of great interest, but not the sort of remains we would preserve in situ. I don't see it being a long term problem."

There is already evidence of Iron Age roundhouses and a team of 30 archaeologists are starting on the more detailed work, to see what else they can uncover.

Lee White, assistant archaeological officer with Durham County Council is monitoring the work on behalf of Darlington,

She said: "It is a big landscape of Iron Age and Romano-British activity and it is unusual to be able to strip the whole area, instead of having little keyhole trenches.

"The aerial view will help give us a perspective and some idea of the features.

"It is going to be an on-going investigation and we are hoping to have open days for the public when it is finished, probably in September.

"At the moment we don't want people going along and disturbing the site, which is covered by 24-hour security."