Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient small-holding buried deep in the middle of a wood.

The site, on a flat piece of ground the size of a football pitch in Thackley's Buck Wood, features a raised platform and the remains of a simple stone shelter.

Archaeology experts employed by volunteer group the Friends of Buck Wood believe it could date back to Roman times.

Local historian and Friend of Buck Wood, Dr Christine Alvin, said the exciting find could pave the way for an archaeological dig at the site.

She said: "We would like to hear from anyone who knows anything about it.

"It is very exciting to discover such a find in the wood."

The Friends employed a specialised team of archaeological surveyors to explore the wood on foot - unaware that such a significant site was waiting to be discovered.

"We employed the consultants using part of £24,000 funding we received from the Local Heritage Initiative last year," she added. The Friends have already found out more about medieval Buck Mill and an open air school for sick children based in the woods during the first years of the 20th century.

However, their latest find has taken them by surprise.

Fellow Friend Dr Eileen White, of Idle, Bradford, said: "It is very exciting to discover more history in the wood."

Site surveyor Steve Sherlock, from the North Yorkshire-based Blaize Vyner Archaeological Consultancy, said: "We are impressed by this one.

"Originally, there would have been a walled enclosure around the size of a modern football pitch - which is still marked by raised banking around the site.

"The enclosure could well have been used to keep in cattle.

"In the middle of that we have stones which still roughly mark out the foundations of a shelter.

"It is a fairly substantial building which was probably abandoned around 250 years ago.

"It is indicative of fairly substantial activity. It is pre-1500 and could date back as far as Roman times - making it possibly around 2,000 years old." The area is in dense woodland made up mainly of old oak and beech trees but the site itself appears to have cleared at some time in the distant past, with the trees smaller and less closely-packed than in the surrounding area.

The surveyors spent four days in the wood, using their extensive experience to look for human activity.

They are now compiling a report on their findings which will be presented to the Friends of Buck Wood at a date yet to be arranged.

The open air school saw sick youngsters from Bradford's industrial slums delivered for lessons, fresh air and food from 1908 to the mid-1930s.

After the Second World War it was used as a temporary school for children and a community meeting place for youth groups until it was burned down in an attack by vandals in 1966.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Friends of Buck Wood should contact Dr Christine Alvin on (01274) 612250.