<b.DOZENS of volunteer diggers gave up their bank holiday weekend to help search for the tomb of King Alfred.

As excavations near a climax, 26 diggers turned out on Sunday and more than 30 yes-terday to help remove soil from the historic site at Winchester.

Community archaeologists, who have been working at the site on the edge of the car park at the city's River Park Leisure Centre since July 12, are about to excavate three graves.

The graves are believed to be those of Alfred, his Queen Eahlswith and their son Edward.

"We are very pleased with the help we have received over the bank holiday weekend and we hope to have some exciting news by the end of the week," said community archaeologist Graham Scobie.

"The dig is going very well, but what we could really do with now is a drop of rain," he added. "Due to the fine weather we have had the soil has become very hard-packed and some fine rain overnight would make the going a lot easier."

Alfred's remains, along with those of Eahlswith and Edward, were taken to Hyde Abbey, which stood on the dig site, in 1110.

Hyde Abbey survived until its demolition in 1538 under Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. During the following two centuries the site served as a stone quarry.

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