Digging up the past has never been more popular.

All 80 places on an archeology course run by Essex County Council experts have been taken up by students from all over the country, including one from New Zealand.

And their work as they dig Dovehouse field, near to Cressing Temple's historic barns, is shown to the world on its own internet site.

Organiser Mark Atkinson said each year the course attacts more people. "We had to up it this year from sixty to eighty because of the interest," he said.

"It's at least partly due to the fact that the web site is on view round the world and people from abroad want to come and dig up our ancient past."

Trainees on the series of week long courses , which started on Monday last week, range from teenagers to the elderly.

Visitors will be able to take a guided tour of the site at an open day on August 26 between 11am and 4pm.

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