An archaeologist says that the discovery of a Roman bath-house hidden underneath Carlisle Cricket Club will only help to increase interest in the city's rich history.

The find comes just weeks before the city's Bitts Park hosts "Turma! Hadrian’s Cavalry Charge", which will see a troop of 30 Roman cavalrymen perform together for the first time in more than 1,500 years.

"It's an amazing find," Bill Griffiths, head of programmes for Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums and chair of the Hadrian’s Cavalry steering group, told the News & Star .

"I'm looking forward to seeing it [the bath-house] myself. It's probably been there since around the fourth century AD. It also gives us a different insight into how the Romans lived compared to something like Hadrian's Wall.

"Bath-houses always draw up a lot of interest because they were places where people at the time gathered to socialise as well."

The Turma event is just one of one of a string that have been arranged as part of Hadrian's Cavalry, which is taking place at 10 museums and heritage attractions along the 150-mile length of Hadrian's Wall.

"It's definitely fuelled an interest in Roman history," Mr Griffiths added. "Schools have been completing projects on the Romans and we're hoping that the Turma will also draw in interest from families as well.

"We always want to put on things that are engaging for the public."

Following the discovery of the bath-house, both the owners of Carlisle Cricket Club and Colin Glover, leader of Carlisle City Council are keen to create a permanent display to bring Carlisle’s Roman past to life.

Mr Glover said: "The archaeology they’ve found is absolutely stunning.

“It’s been a dream for a long time to find Roman archaeology in Carlisle that is good enough to show to the public.

"What they’ve found at the cricket club site is really stunning: there are whole rooms, surviving Roman floors, parts of cooking pots, including one with a lion’s head through which sauces would be poured."

Further information about the Hadrian's Cavalry Turma event can be found by visiting www.hadrianscavalry.co.uk