A CAMPAIGN group has been formed to make Colchester’s Roman Wall a tourist attraction in its own right.

Heritage enthusiasts plan a fundraising drive to help pay for repairs and will be lobbying council chiefs to improve the setting of the ancient fortifications.

The wall is already key to the attraction Colchester holds for visitors.

But the new Friends of Colchester Roman Wall group says better signs and presentation can make it a stand-alone attraction people will want to see.

Founder member Henry Spyvee began moves to form the organisation during his year as town mayor in 2009/10.

The Lib Dem Colchester councillor, whose ward is where the wall stands, said certain sections were not shown off to their best advantage.

As an example, he said Duncan’s Gate, beside the path which leads through Castle Park from Roman Road, is a heap of rubble surrounded by high iron railings.

Mr Spyvee said: “We would need money and all the necessary permissions, but we might be able to look at restoring the gate to what it once was.

“Hiding it away behind railings is definitely not the best way of showing it off.”

Colchester Council is required to pay for the routine upkeep of the wall and the group will not look to shoulder the costs of its maintenance, which run to tens of thousands of pounds a year.

But Mr Spyvee said it will look to raise cash for specific projects, such as restoring the gate.

It will also look to help fund better information boards, which would allow visitors to walk around the wall and find out about its history along the way.

The group, which has three lead members, Mr Spyvee and residents Bill Hayton and Barry Donovan, will explain its ideas and look to recruit more volunteers at a meeting on July 8 at the town hall in High Street.

Wine and canapes will be served at the free meeting which starts at 7pm.