COLCHESTER is rallying behind the bid to get a heritage centre for the town’s Roman chariot-racing arena.

Campaigners last night confirmed they are now past the halfway mark in their bid to raise the first £200,000.

Schools, businesses and Colchester United are all getting involved with the drive to haul in the next £100,000.

The U’s took project organisers by surprise when they flashed up the Gazette’s Save Colchester’s Roman circus poster on giant screens during Saturday’s match.

Media manager Matt Hudson hopes to get first-team stars involved. He said: “In many ways, the Roman circus was the equivalent of what the community stadium is to the town now.”

Meanwhile, the Lemon Tree restaurant in St John’s Street has agreed to back the plan for a I Love Roman Colchester week in the run-up to Valentine’s Day.

Hamilton Primary School, in Constantine Road, is helping out by holding a non-uniform day tomorrow with pupils paying into the fund.

Littlegarth School, in Nayland, has donated £1,000 from its own non-uniform event.

The aim of the campaign is to find £750,000 to buy the old Army building where the Roman circus’s starting gates are buried in the garden.

To pledge cash, call Isobel Merry on 07891 234274 or see www.romancircus.org