A number of archaeological items have been unearthed at a housing development site in Wiltshire.

Work is underway to build 227 new army family homes on MOD land in Bulford.

However, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) project has discovered a number of archaeological artefacts during pre-planning application trenching.

Further investigations revealed an Anglo-Saxon cemetery of about 150 graves.

Artefacts found included spears, knives, jewellery, bone combs and other personal items.

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It is thought the findings date to between AD 660 and 780 which falls in the mid-Anglo-Saxon period in Britain.

DIO Army Basing Project Manager Andy Corcoran said: "The discovery of this important Saxon cemetery was completely unexpected. It's incredibly interesting and early site investigation and involvement of our archaeological specialists has kept this project on track."

The Bulford development is part of wider plans to accommodate the 4,000 additional army personnel and their families who will be based on and around Salisbury Plain by 2019.

Overall, the MOD is planning to invest over £1 billion in the region to provide around 1,000 new homes for service families.

Further plans include 2,500 new bed spaces for single soldiers and the construction, conversion or refurbishment of 250 other buildings within military bases, such as offices, garages, workshops and Mess facilities.

Work on the homes is expected to get underway from early 2017.

(LM)