AS YOU are no doubt aware, Peterborough is home to one of the most important Bronze Age archaeological sites in the world.

Tens Of thousands of people from all over the world have come to wonder at the site, which tells the story of Peterborough 3,000 years ago.

For many years, English Heritage was able to help fund the maintenance and running costs of Flag Fen. Now that money has dried up, and we are appalled to discover the site may have to be re-buried to save it from being totally destroyed. In the process, it may be lost to future generations.

We are sure you will agree we cannot allow this to happen.

English Heritage has shown tremendous support for Flag Fen and we and the city are grateful. We also appreciate money does not grow on trees. However, we understand the Heritage Lottery Fund is specifically excluded from providing financial assistance for archaeological excavations.

Surely now is the time to change that ruling - but it must be done Quickly because ... the Heritage of Flag Fen is not only the Heritage of Peterborough, but is also the heritage of Britain.

. . .The Fight For Flag Fen. . .

Cash crisis threatens site that holds key to our past

THE CITY'S world famous archaeological site, Flag Fen could be re-buried next month unless £92,000 is found. The Bronze Age site has to get the cash by June 30 to pay for running costs and maintaining the excavations.

The site has been Preserved for 3,00 years because of the water-logged land of the are and the excavations have to be kept moist at all times to stop them rotting away.

Burying the site again would preserve it longer then leaving it open, but it would still be badly damaged and the water level of the land is dropping any way due to irrigation.

So experts are now appealing to companies, organisation and the public to donate cash to keep the Fengate site OPEN.

Director of archaeology Dr Francis Pryor says the site is suffering the effects of a change in national policy, meaning less Government cash is available for funding archaeological digs.

English Heritage, a Government funded body, used to Provide Flag Fen with a grant worth £l00,000 each year, totalling £580,000 to date, but over the last three years this has dropped to just £7,000 a year.

Dr Pryor, said: "Without urgent financial support, Peterborough will lose a magnificent attraction.