ARCHAEOLOGISTS have unearthed the remains of a 19th-century heated swimming pool in the centre of Derby.

They have been digging on a site in King Street which is to be concreted over as part of work on the new city ring road.

And they are investigating the foundations of two former buildings on the site.

One is the site of the Derby China Works, which was open between 1849 and 1935 and the other is a marble manufacturer dating from the early 1800s.

William Mitchell, who is in charge of the team of archaeologists from Birmingham, said they had uncovered some interesting finds.

The 29-year-old said: "We have found what we think is an old heated swimming pool as part of the foundations for the marble factory.

"We have uncovered a brick flue leading towards the pool from the steam engine used in the marble production.

"It seems they were using the steam generated from making marble fireplaces and other products to heat their swimming pool, which we think they opened to the public."

The archaeologists are involved in the dig as part of the preparation work for the £36m Connecting Derby project.

The project will see a new road constructed between Bradshaw Way and Uttoxeter New Road to complete the city's inner ring road, as well as a new link road in the King Street area.

Nearly a month after arriving at the site next to Seven Stars pub, itself a Grade II listed building dating back to 1680, the team of experts have carefully excavated the two sets of foundations.

But Mr Mitchell said they had discovered some much older evidence.

He said: "There is some brickwork, some walls beneath the marble works which date back to the 1700s, which is quite exciting."

Derby City Council said the archeaological findings were not of national interest.

If something was found that might be of such importance the council would investigate the matter with the county archaeologists but otherwise the foundations would be recorded, preserved and built over.