ARCHAEOLOGISTS will be allowed back to unlock the secrets of Wallingford — but only if they promise to return the land in a good condition.

Wallingford Town Council voted to let experts from Oxford, Leicester and Exeter universities return for a second dig in July.

Last year, researchers carried out excavations at Kinecroft, Bullcroft and Castle Meadows, but left one of the sites in a mess.

Town clerk Andrew Rogers said the reinstatement of the dig in Kinecroft was way below standard.

He claimed the earth had sunk, hundreds of stones had come to the surface and money had to be spent on six tonnes of soil and grass seed to sort out the problem.

Councillors took a vote on whether they should be banned from further digs on Monday night.

Town councillor Mike Mold said: “In my opinion it has left a great big scar in the middle of Kinecroft.”

Now they have been given the go-ahead, teams of archaeologists and students will dig a trench across central Kinecroft, in partnership with volunteers from Wallingford Museum.

Councillor Lynda Atkins said: “If they can give us reassurance that they will do better at clearing up this time, I think it should be fine.

“We’ve been wondering about the history of Wallingford for years and we are finally getting the chance to find out more.

Matt Edgeworth, project officer from Leicester University, said: “It was rather unexpected because we went to great lengths to compact the soil. We did the best we could and the council did the best they could, but there have been problems with it since.

“I think our findings will put Wallingford on the map, certainly in archaeological terms.

“It’s meant to be one of King Alfred’s fortified towns, and it’s one of the best preserved Anglo-Saxon medieval towns in England.”

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk