COUNCILLORS in Hapton are to decline the opportunity of having the village's common dug up to reveal more about the history of the area.

Hapton Parish Council have received a request from a group of enthusiasts called Phoenix Artefact Reclamation about digging up the land to retrieve historical objects.

The Cornwall-based group said they made the request in response to reports of illegal digging on the common.

If permission was granted they group of five intended to dig for artefacts dating from the Victorian and Edwardian era which they said include bottles, jars and pots, but are of little monetary value.

They would then study the finds to find out more about the pieces and the area. But councillor Pat Jones said: "Parish councillors were bemused by this request as there does not appear to be a problem with illegal digging and they wondered how a company in Cornwall would assume there was.

"The clerk is to write to the company and thank them for their interest."