Lockdown loan secures future of trust which manages Vindolanda Roman Fort

A trust which is carrying out archaeological research on Hadrian's Wall has secured a £300,000 Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan which will help it survive through the lockdown.

For 50 years the Vindolanda Charitable Trust has preserved and carried out digs at the Vindolanda Roman Fort in Northumberland.

The trust normally welcomes 150,000 people every year to explore its history but the restrictions on non-essential travel meant it had to close its two sites and museum, leading to the furloughing of 37 of its 46 staff.

It predicted it will turn over just 30% of its 2019 figure of £1.5m, and after reducing its overheads, the trust approached Lloyds for a loan.

Paul Watson, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, said: "The trust works to support a historical site of global importance and protecting sites like this is essential if we want to continue learning about our history."