AN important archaeological dig near Goodworth Clatford has proved successful - despite the best efforts of vandals to sabotage the site.

Destructive delinquents managed to start a JCB parked nearby and took the machine for a joy ride around the field.

Luckily, weeks of painstaking work remained intact and the archaeologists were pleased to find that the Iron Age stone house they had discovered remained untouched.

But three portable toilets installed at the isolated site were destroyed and their pumps removed.

"I was completely shocked when I arrived that morning and saw all the damage.

"I'm just glad that nothing of archaeological value was taken, because it means a lot to us but is worthless to anyone else," said Cynthia Poole, assistant director of the excavation.

Police are still investigating the incidents, which took place over night on 12 August.

They estimate the vandals caused £329 worth of damage at the site.

The rural excavation was funded by the Danebury Trust and Hampshire County Council and its impressive findings will be shared with Andover Museum's curator Dave Allen.

"Luckily we've been able to work around what happened but it does seem as though nothing is safe anymore," Mr Allen said.