STUDENTS from Maldon and South Woodham Ferrers helped out a unit from Cambridge University with an archaeological dig.

The university’s outreach unit, Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA), carried out an excavation in Althorne Pavilion and Recreation Ground on Thursday morning, with the help of year nine and year ten students from Plume Academy and William de Ferrers School.

Emily Ryley, organiser, said: “Althorne has an Anglo-Saxon name, but isn't recorded in the doomsday book. We hadn't dug here before so we didn't know what we're going to find.

“We ended up finding some Roman and medieval pottery which is really exciting as we haven't got any previous evidence for these periods.

“It's all about raising aspirations to university and the pupils will be having a full day at Cambridge including a lecture, museum workshop and lunch at a college.”