Remains of a Roman settlement have been found on the proposed site of a new cemetery.

The findings were unearthed during a recent archaeological dig at the so-called Baker's field site near Long Leys Road in Lincoln.

Fragments of pottery, gullies for farming and animal bones were discovered during the survey, suggesting that the site was once a Roman-era farm.

Local opponents of the cemetery plan had hoped that the discovery might derail it but this now seems unlikely to happen.

Lincoln City Council's archaeologist Dr Mick Jones said that, although the find was interesting, nothing outstanding had been unearthed.

"What we have found is not of sufficient importance to stop the development going ahead," he said.

The farm, which dates back to between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD, is likely to have belonged to a retired Roman army veteran, and possibly even a senior local Roman.

The settlement is also close to foundations of a Roman stone building found in the mid 1980s.

Before the city council cemetery development reaches the building stage, more extensive digs will now have to take place to make doubly sure that nothing significant is buried there.

Tony Wilson, whose home on Vigo Close borders Baker's field, said his own digs had also unearthed Roman pottery.

"I just wonder whether there might be more to that site than we know," he said.

The council is being forced to find a new cemetery because the city will run out of places to bury the dead within five years.

But there have been criticisms that the Long Leys Road scheme will force out a riding school based there.