Builders finally return to Wroxeter after 2,000 years

One of Shropshire's tourist gems was catapulted into the limelight in the first of a new six-part Channel 4 TV series.

Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury, was once the fourth largest city in Roman Britain and the documentary series, which started last night, shows how an authentic villa was built at the site last summer.

The programme - called Rome Wasn't Built in a Day - follows six modern tradesmen as they try to construct a Roman villa using only ancient tools and materials.

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The team, who are being guided by archaeologist Professor Dai Morgan Evans, were shown visiting the Acton Scott Museum in Shropshire, where lime putty is still made in the ancient style in a giant kiln. They were also seen scouring Shrewsbury town centre for volunteers.

Viewers will watch over the next few weeks how Villa Urbana - a high status Roman town house - was built from the design of a building excavated at Wroxeter's Roman site in 1914.

The villa, which is now open to the public at Wroxeter Roman City, was built as part of a project involving the owners of the historic site, English Heritage.