A YOUNG archaeologist from Bolton has made a discovery which has excited experts.

Sarah Duffy, aged 22, who grew up in Little Lever, discovered a Roman altar stone at a site in Castlefield, Manchester, last month.

It is only the second alter stone to be found in Manchester in the last 150 years and just the second item ever found to have a personal inscription on it.

Miss Duffy was working on the dig, which ran from February 25 until yesterday, for the company Pre-Construct Archaeology.

On March 20, she was digging in a pit when she discovered the stone which is one metre in height.

Miss Duffy, who now lives in Liverpool said: "I didn't realise what it was at first, I just thought it was a bit of stone. But then I saw the inscription and realised it was something special.

"I couldn't believe it. A lot of people spend a long time digging and don't find anything and I found something on my second dig. Everyone has been really excited about it."

The stone is thought to have an inscription from a Roman soldier to a goddess.