AN archaeological excavation planned for Verulamium Park has been postponed because of bad weather.

The dig was supposed to start on January 4 before a planning application to develop a leisure centre on the site of existing Westminster Lodge is submitted to St Albans District Council.

But with the area under a blanket of fresh snow, experts from Wessex Archaeolgy have postponed the evaluation until the white stuff has thawed, with hopes of completion by the end of January.

Most of the digs will take place on the proposed location for the new centre, including the grass areas around the car park in front of the Abbey Theatre. Trail trenches will also be dug on the grass area in front of the athletics track building and to the west of the existing leisure centre, in the car park to the front of the Sea Cadets and Air Training Corps huts. Part of the car park will be cordoned off for this reason.

District councillor Sheila Burton, portfolio holder for sport and healthy living, said: “It is hoped that disruption will be kept to a minimum so that residents will not be unduly inconvenienced.

“Once the archaeological evaluation has been completed, Wessex Archaeology will submit a detailed report to the council by the end of January of any significant features found within the trenches.”