COLCHESTER’S Roman walls will be promoted using 21st century technology.

Interactive information boards using the latest QR technology will be installed along the 2,000-year-old walls The technology, more commonly used as an advertising tool, will allow visitors to scan a bar code to get more on their smartphones or laptops.

The Friends of Colchester Roman Wall is heading up the project. It plans to have 13 boards, each costing £1,000, along the wall.

Councillor Henry Spyvee, who is chairman of the Friends of Colchester Roman Wall, said: “The boards will help visitors understand where they are in terms of the wall and what happened there and when it happened.

“For us it is a real step in the right direction to making the walls as prominent an attraction as we can make them.”

Friends of Castle Park donated £500 toward the first board at Duncan’s Gate in Castle Park.

The Friends of Colchester Roman Wall will pay the other £500.

Anthony Roberts, chairman of the Friends of Castle Park, said: “We were delighted to be able to give the money and it is a classic example of the groups working together for the good of the town.”

It is hoped the Duncan’s Gate board will be up and running before the end of the year, with all 13 boards in use by 2014.

Colchester United fans have already helped pay for a board at Balkerne Gate, while the Castle and Roman Road Residents’ Association is helping to fund a board along the stretch of wall to the east of town. l The future of the town’s walls will be the subject of a free talk next Tuesday.

Henry Spyveewill speak on how best to preserve and improve the wall in Bourne Hall, Priory Street, at 7.30pm.

Mr Spyvee will also be giving more information on how the interpretation boards will work and how best to promote them to tourists.