Rabbits may cause fall of Roman forts

LEGIONS of rabbits are threatening to destroy dozens of Scotland’s most important Roman remains.

The rabbits have already burrowed deep beneath the defences of the 60 Roman forts and watchtowers built across Scotland to keep the marauding Picts at bay.

Archaeologists say many of the ancient structures are in danger of collapsing completely.

One of the sites under threat is the once-mighty Roman fort at Ardoch, near Braco, Perthshire.

Dr David Woolliscroft, an archaeologist at Liverpool University who has been excavating this site for more than 15 years, said:

"Ardoch is without question the best preserved Roman fort in Scotland and it would be a tragedy if it, too, was to be destroyed by rabbits.

"There is no doubt that unless the local rabbit population is brought under control, Ardoch could eventually become virtually useless as an archaeological site."