Archaeologists may have discovered a Roman "service station" by the A147 in the Cotswolds.

       Some of the pieces found date back 12000 years to the Neolithic period.

       The items include a cupid figurine, a Roman nail cleaner, items of pottery, coins, and pieces of jewellery. They went on display at a public event held at Gloucester Guildhall on May 11.

       Alex Thompson, project manager at Oxford Cotswold Archaeology, is of the view that the items may have been dropped by people moving between locations.

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       Mr Thompson: "We have a nice Roman settlement and it lies on Ermin Street, the road between Roman Cirencester and Gloucester.

       "We think that our settlement was being used to help with people that were travelling along the road and probably something to do with horses."

       He added: "We have a nice Roman building that may have been used as stabling or potentially as somewhere where you could stay the night and have your horse looked after."

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       The precious finds date from the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman periods, as well as from the Second World War.

       Mr Thompson said that one of the the more unusual discoveries from the archaeological dig was a tiny Cupid figurine from the Roman period.

       Uncovered during the excavation phase of the dig, the little figurine is 7cm (2.7in) in height and is made from copper alloy.

       It's a depiction of Cupid in the style of Hercules.

       Mr Thompson said: "It represents the power of love over even the strongest Heroes. It was probably a love token. It wouldn't have been cheap. It's a really unusual and special find."