INITIAL groundworks will begin this week as part of plans to create a new public square in Colchester town centre.

The We Are Colchester partnership has secured £1million in Government funding to revamp the public open space in St Nicholas Square, as well as at Balkerne Gate near the Mercury Theatre.

At St Nicholas Square a new space will be designed to complement Colchester Castle and other nearby visitor attractions.

As part of the plans, feasibility and investigation work needs to take place.

Colchester Archaeological Trust has been appointed to investigate two areas of the site.

Archaeologists will be undertaking some initial trial pit testing works at the location.

The site was a former burial ground before St Nicholas Church was demolished in the 1950s.

It will be investigated for any Roman deposits before planning applications can be submitted.

The works are estimated to take up to four days.

David King, Colchester Council’s business boss, said: “I am pleased that work is beginning to help bring forward what will be an attractive new public space.”