HUNDREDS of people have enjoyed watching the return of Emperor Claudius to Colchester.

A novelty video posted on hosting site YouTube features a reenactment of a journey made almost 2,000 years ago.

It is part of the Fixing the Link project to encourage visitors and residents to walk more.

They are invited to follow the one mile £80,000 elephant signposted route from Colchester North Station to High Street.

The project, a joint enterprise between Colchester Council, Essex County Council and Abelio Greater Anglia, started more than a year ago with the conclusion marked with the video.

It features a man dressed in traditional Roman dress arriving on the train and then visiting a variety of sites along the route, which is supposed to mark the same route made by the original Claudius to Colchester in AD43.

It is believed his invasion force included elephants, hence the theme of the signs which take "wayfinders" across the River Colne, through the site where North Gate once stood and alongside St Peter's Church.

The video also gives some free advertising to shops such as Fenwicks.

Designers Dallas Pierce Quintero were commissioned to design the walk.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: "The designers were inspired by Colchester's historical and more modern links with elephants.

"From Roman Emperor Claudius' dramatic arrival into Colchester leading an invasion force that included elephants, to the iconic Victorian water tower at the top of the High Street affectionately known as Jumbo."

The video, already viewed by more than 250 people in the first week, has had a mixed reception.

Many enjoyed the effort while others, on social media, took the opportunity to criticise the council after being asked what the emperor would have made of Colchester today.

Colchester, once known as Camulodunum, claims to be the oldest town in Britain and the first Roman settlement.

To find out more about the Fixing the Link project, or to watch the video, visit: www.colchester.gov.uk/fixingthelink