English Heritage will set up a mobile archaeology headquarters at Swindon's Roman site.

As the Evening Advertiser has already revealed, the national heritage organisation plans to start digging at Groundwell Ridge on June 23.

Its archaeologists are already using equipment similar to sonar in a bid to outline the structures, which could include a temple, beneath the surface.

Swindon Council's planning committee granted permission for a small compound, including three portable cabins, a storage area, portable toilets and a mesh boundary fence, to be erected.

The dig is scheduled to last for five weeks.

On the weekend of June 28 and 29, television's Time Team will be carrying out their own dig slightly to the east of the English Heritage site, as part of a nationwide Big Dig event.

Meanwhile the Council plans to construct two cycleways across the site at St Andrews Ridge.

In order to minimise damage to archaeology, the paths will measure two metres in width, unlike the standard three metres.