ARCHAEOLOGISTS have submitted a planning application to build a Roman bridge - 2,000 years after it was first constructed.

They have been working for more than two years on uncovering one of the most impressive pieces of Roman masonry in the Hadrian's Wall area.

The team from Tyne and Wear Museums uncovered stones from what is believed to be a prestigious and ornamental bridge across the River Tyne at Corbridge, Northumberland.

Now they want to reconstruct the bridge and road ramp leading up to it in a scheme costing in excess of £350,000.

Stone Roman bridges are incredibly rare in Britain.

It is the second time the team has submitted a planning application to Tynedale Council after being asked to change the position of the reconstruction to minimise any impact on the nearby flood defences of the river.

The project will also include interpretation boards at the site explaining the importance of the bridge.

The Second Century bridge carried the main Roman road of Dere Street over the Tyne to the Roman town of Corstopitum, upstream of Corbridge.

Erosion from the river caused the walls to collapse into the river in the early medieval period and this probably saved them from later stone robbers.

The site was under further threat of erosion because of the changing direction of the Tyne so the decision was taken to remove the stones from the river in a scheme backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage.

Paul Bidwell, senior manager for archaeology at Tyne and Wear Museums, said: "This is a very important piece of Roman Britain. It shows-off Roman engineering at its best and it is a great opportunity to put this discovery on public display and I'm sure when it's finished it will be of great interest to people."

An extraordinary Roman road leading from the bridge was found following floods in 2005.

Environment Agency officers unearthed the road's foundations when repairing the village's flood defences.

Archaeologists believed the stone structure was a length of retaining wall for the ramp to the bridge.

It was the first evidence of a road running along the south bank of the Tyne and archaeologists hailed the discovery as being of national significance as stone Roman bridges are incredibly rare in Britain.

Terry Frain, of Tyne & Wear Museums, said: "We knew of one ramp to the bridge, but we did not realise there was another."

Assistant keeper of archaeology, Terry Frain, who will be working on the reconstruction project, added: "A lot of people knew the bridge existed but to have it visible for visitors is very important for the area."

The application is due to be discussed at the end of the month.