THESE children are ready to fight for Venta Belgarum.

There was a mini Roman invasion in Winchester when children dressed up as characters from the ancient world.

A legionary soldier in full military dress and a lady in all her finery from the Legio Secunda Augusta Living History Society visited City Museum last weekend.

Visitors services team leader, Silvia Bungaro, said: "Winchester has a very important history and you hope that the new generation will appreciate and take care of it. They can become stewards of our heritage for the future."

It was a chance for people to learn more about how people lived in Venta Belgarum, as Winchester was known nearly 2,000 years ago.

Youngsters could pick up swords, hold their shields and put on sandals for the half-term display.

During the two-day ‘invasion’ there were replica Roman objects to handle, displays of real Roman jewellery, coins and mosaics.