NORTHWICH residents can enjoy part of the Roman Middlewich Festival on their doorstep.

The Lion Salt Works in Marston, the county's only surviving example of the pre-Roman inland salt industry, will be demonstrating the ancient traditions of salt-making.

On Saturday, September 27, there will be an international salt-making conference in Northwich Memorial Hall, with lecturers from across the world, including Spain, Germany, America, France and Denmark.

The following day there will be salt-making demonstrations and other activities at the Lion Salt Works, including working reconstructions of a Roman lead salt pan and themed marquees showing pottery-making demonstrations and heritage displays.

Middlewich town clerk Jonathan Williams said: 'We are really pleased to have teamed up with Lion Salt Works.

'It was a very natural link to the Roman Festival because lead salt pans were used by the Romans at Middlewich, Nantwich and Northwich, and excavations at Middlewich and Nantwich have revealed extensive salt-making settlements.

'Their involvement will really complement the festival and hopefully attract many more tourists to the Cheshire area.'

Staff at the Salt Works are looking forward to the weekend.

Project manager Andrew Fielding said: 'The weekend event is a great way to bring history to life. The focus is on celebrating our heritage.'

* For more information on the events at Lion Salt Works, call Andrew Fielding on 01606 41823.