A FAMOUS wilderness survival expert has visited Colchester to film part of his new TV series.

Presenter Ray Mears has partnered with channel History Hit for the production of two new series - Ancient Britain with Ray Mears and Invasion with Ray Mears.

The first episode of the four-part Ancient Britain airs on Friday with the show taking viewers on a journey back through time to explore the first traces of human habitation in the UK.

Invasion, which airs in the autumn, will chart both Caesar’s and Claudius’ invasion of Britain and the establishment of the fledgling Roman province of Britannia - of which Colchester was the first capital.

One of the locations explored in the two series is Gosbecks Archaeological Park.

Gosbecks is one of the country's most important Iron Age and Roman monuments and was the pre-eminent tribal capital of south eastern Britain, once known as Cunobelin's farm after the Catuvellauni king who ruled at the time.

In Roman times the area was also home to a Romano-British temple and Britain's largest Roman theatre.

Colchester Council now manages the site, which is beloved by walkers and wildlife enthusiasts as well as being a designated Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Ray said: "I’ve always been a firm believer that the past informs the present and can provide a guide to the future.

"Across these films, I’m excited to be getting to grips with ideas and practices of our ancestors in the hope of shedding some light on our nation’s earliest histories.”

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Sometimes called the "Father of British Bushcraft", Ray is best known for his survival television series.

He started hosting Ray Mears’ World of Survival in 1997 which led to various spin-offs including Ray Mears’ Bushcraft and Wild Britain with Ray Mears.

Ray has also released several books and now is regular TV presenter.

For more information about the series, click here.