WORKMEN building a new supermarket were stopped in their tracks when they made an archaeological discovery.

Engineers at the new Asda's Lower Mills site in Rawtenstall uncovered a Bevel wheel yesterday which is thought to have been used to transfer water or steam power into the former cotton factory.

Civic Trust chiefs have stepped in help remove the 170-year-old artifact, but warned that the process would take time. The news comes after it was announced last week that the new superstore had hit delays because of planning complications.

The multi-million pound superstore, set to be built this year and creating 150 new jobs, will not now open until next February.

But Asda bosses today said that despite hitting stumbling blocks and making the find they were striving to stick to the February opening date.

The wheel is believed to date back to the 1830s when the Whiteheads took over the running of the factory which launched Rawtenstall's cotton industry.

Kathy Fishwick, secretary of Rossendale Civic Trust, said: "This is really exciting news for Rossendale. We didn't know that the huge Bevel cog wheel was there until workmen were working on a bank and discovered a massive wheel looming out of the depths.

"The good thing about this is that we are trying to raise people's awareness about Rossendale's background history. With this discovery it will help highlight what we are trying to do."

Kathy has been enrolled as the official recorder of events and will keep a picture diary of what happens daily. It's hoped the wheel will be restored to its former glory and displayed as a piece of history.

A spokesman for Asda said: "The workmen were shocked when they found this wheel.

"They have sought advice from the Civic Trust as to how they should deal with it and they are taking time to extract the wheel from the site.

"We are hoping that work won't be delayed any further."