Archaeologists are digging into the past of one of the most historic towns in Sussex.

Work has started to uncover remains buried for more than nine centuries beneath Shoreham town centre.

There have already been some interesting finds on the Ropetackle site, including an ancient well and a tiny belt buckle dating from the 13th Century.

A bone needle used to make nets by the men who fished the River Adur and the Sussex coast at that time has also been found.

There is also evidence of earlier occupation in the shape of worked flint tools used to skin animals, which could date from neolithic times.

Evidence from more recent times includes part of the former gasworks buildings which once stood there and Victorian pottery.

Head archaeologist Simon Stevens, in charge of the investigation, is literally digging back into his own past.

He was born at nearby Southlands Hospital, grew up in Shoreham and still regularly returns to his home town to visit his parents.

Simon, 32, who lives at Newick, near Lewes, said: "I have known Ropetackle all my life so it is fascinating to come back to look at the archaeology of it.

"Shoreham is such an important town historically. I am amazed nothing on this scale has been done before.

"There have been a few keyhole digs before but this is the first major investigation to be carried out here."

The work is being carried out by Archaeology South-East as part of a £25 million project to redevelop the site, which has stood derelict for more than 30 years.

Ten experts have three months to explore the site before developers Berkeley Homes move in to build a new focal point for the town centre.

Once everything on the site has been carefully excavated and recorded, it will be covered over.

Work will then begin to build 200 homes, a town square and business and leisure facilities there.

Simon and his team will first concentrate on the ancient buildings of the town.

Old Shoreham originally stood where St Nicolas Church now is and boats sailed up the River Adur to anchor there.

The Normans decided to build a new town further south when the river silted up and boats were no longer able to reach it.

Houses in the new Shoreham were built from stone and timber and streets were laid out in a grid system, with back gardens and fences marking the boundaries.

Medieval rubbish tips containing broken pottery, animal bones, oyster shells and domestic waste also provide valuable clues about how the townsfolk lived.