A major conservation project to protect a stretch of Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland has started.

The 800m section of the 2,000-year-old Roman wall at Great Chesters, near Haltwhistle, is in poor repair because of weather and animal grazing.

Natural England is funding the £200,000 scheme which will also see an adjoining dry stone wall repaired.

The project will take several months and will help safeguard wildlife that thrives in the area.

Dr Tom Gledhill, Natural England's historic buildings advisor, said: "Thanks to this special project we can not only save one of the finest sections of the Roman wall, but also safeguard some of Northumberland's most precious wildlife."

Mike Collins, Hadrian's Wall archaeologist at English Heritage, added: "This section of Hadrian's Wall is a fantastic survival from our Roman past, and one which allows us to see the detail of the original Roman construction work on the wall.

"Its condition has long been of concern, leading to its inclusion on our Heritage at Risk Register, and it is therefore very welcome that these repairs are now taking place to save this for the nation."