With summer fast approaching it is often a common sight to see people leisurely pottering about their colourful gardens.But for a dozen gardens in Acle there will soon be scenes of frenetic activity as a top television archaeologist tries to unearth the village's varied past for the second year running.

With summer fast approaching it is often a common sight to see people leisurely pottering about their colourful gardens.

But for a dozen gardens in Acle there will soon be scenes of frenetic activity as a top television archaeologist tries to unearth the village's varied past for the second year running.

Dr Carenza Lewis, of Cambridge University and who has appeared on Time Team, will be spending July 6 and 7 digging test pits in 12 gardens.

The test pits follow a similar dig last June in which Dr Lewis and fellow relic hunter and Time Team expert Paul Blinkhorn found remains dating back to Roman times.

Dr Lewis hopes that this year's dig will help prove a new theory that East Anglian settlements were in a constant state of flux because of events such as the Black Death and Viking raids instead of a perceived state of gradual change.

Last year's test pits at 11 gardens found a wide range or artefacts including Roman greyware, early Medieval sandy ware and Victorian pottery.

If other exciting finds are unearthed in July's two day dig it may help to prove that parts of the village were unoccupied between the 14th and 16th century.

Such finds could help confirm Dr Lewis's new state of flux theory which has also been explored in digs at Carleton Rode, near Attleborough.

The dig is being run by Cambridge University in conjunction with the Acle Archive Group and one of the main relics it is hoped might be found this time are Medieval pots.

So far five villagers have offered to allow Dr Lewis and local school pupils to dig up test beds in the gardens and it is hoped another seven residents will come forward.

Brian Grint, from the Acle Archive Group, said: “I am really pleased that Dr Lewis is returning to Acle.

“I think she is keen to look at as many gardens as possible so she can find different items to help her build up a picture of Acle's past.”

Any Acle resident who wants their gardens to be dug up by Dr Lewis should call Mr Grint on 01493 750039 or 07710616620.