Volunteers have come together to help build a replica of a fire-hit historic roundhouse.

The Iron Age structure at Flag Fen Archeology Park in Peterborough was left almost completely destroyed after the a suspected arson attack on July 13.

Four fire engines rushed to tackle the blaze, which saw flames tower 20 metres above the surrounding woodland.

Only the charred wattle walls of the roundhouse remained.

Since then, the community has rallied round in the fight to build a replica of the ancient structure, with local businesses offering support and volunteers signing up to help with the effort.

An online fundraiser set up the day after the fire to help fund the build has so far raised more than £18,000, with one person donating more than £500.

On the GoFundMe page, Flag Fen said: "This wasn’t just a building. It was a living classroom, a time machine, a place where 10,000 children each year stepped into the world of our ancestors.

"Built in 2022 with love, care, and community support, it stood as a powerful symbol of our shared heritage."

The structure was almost completely destroyed by the fire

"Vandals tried to silence the past but with your help lets make it louder," it added.

Armed with a team of volunteers, the park officially launched its roundhouse rebuild on Monday.

Flag Fen said while the project will take around nine months to complete, the support of "countless volunteers and community groups" means a part-completed roundhouse will be ready for when schools return in September.

Jacqueline Mooney, General Manager at the archeology park, said: "We are deeply grateful and humbled by the huge amount of support from our community and partners.

Four fire engines rushed to tackle the blaze last month

“This collective effort is helping us recover quickly, protect our heritage and continue delivering our award-winning education programme.”

The roundhouse, constructed in 2022 with funding from Arts Council England, The Francis and Maisie Pryor Charitable Trust and Tyrrell Builders, was modelled on an actual Iron Age dwelling discovered at nearby Cats Water.

The structure replicated how ancient Britons lived approximately 2,500 years ago.

The building served as a crucial educational resource for Flag Fen's schools programme, which teaches thousands of children each year about "the world of our ancestors".

More than £18,000 has been raised to help build a replica of the historic structure

Francis Pryor MBE, who led the original excavations at Flag Fen in 1982, said at the time of the fire: "This is a devastating loss to Flag Fen, the roundhouse is an important learning resource for young and old, providing a valuable insight into Iron Age life.

"Our primary concern now is to re-build the roundhouse so that visitors can benefit from this important and unique asset and we experience as little disruption as possible for our educational programme."