Ancient artefacts have been unearthed during the development of Ashford’s new water pipeline.

South East Water is currently laying a £310 million pipeline between Hothfield and Chilham, to meet Ashford's growing water needs.

But construction was temporarily halted after a number of finds to allow archaeologists to record and preserve the findings.

These included numerous Medieval and Roman coins, mid-late Iron age pots, a gilded belt strap end, Roman ditches and steel knives.

Archaeologist Tim Allen, from Kent Archaeological Project said: “Nearly all of the archaeological areas contain numerous straight and curved boundary ditches, which date from the late Iron Age to the medieval and early post-medieval period."

Full story in next week's Kentish Express.