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Last Updated: Tuesday, 22 January 2008, 12:00 GMT
Lasers unearth historical sites
A plane used to fire the lasers
Lasers are fired from aircraft flying about 3,300ft (1,000m) up
Laser technology is being used to locate potential archaeological sites hidden by woodland in Worcestershire.

The hope is that ancient settlements and farms across the Wyre Forest will be detected by lasers fired from aircraft 3,300ft (1,000m) up.

The results are processed by computers and turned into images of the ground, currently hidden by trees.

One expert said the process offered a "tantalising glimpse" of a very dynamic landscape.

The Forestry Commission has teamed up with the Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service.

The technique is known as Light, Detection and Ranging (LiDAR).

Adam Mindykowski, of the Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service, said: "The final results will provide a vital feed into the management of Wyre."

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