A NEWPORT tourist attraction has been awarded £10,000 to fund improvements.

The National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon has been given the money by Tesco as part of the supermarket’s Bags of Help initiative.

The company took the money raised by the 5p plastic bag levy and awarded £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 to environmental projects.

Staff at the museum will now work to clear a disused part of the Roman garden and replace it with flowers and shrubs similar to what Romans grew in Britain.

A new Roman-style picnic area will also be built to serve the 20,000 school children who visit every year.

The museum’s manager Dai Price said: “We’re delighted to receive this grant from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative and a huge thank you very much to all the Tesco customers who helped make it happen.

“With the help of community groups and volunteers who we will work with, the grant will enable us to transform a space of undeveloped garden. We hope to make it an attractive and useful space which reflects the affection and pride that local people have for this museum.”

Head of community at Tesco Caroline Silke said: “Bags of Help has been a fantastic success.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response of our customers and the feedback has been brilliant.

“We can’t wait to see the money being put to use bringing these projects to life.

“Nominations for the next round of the initiative will open in April and we look forward to helping a further round of groups and projects bag their share of the bag charge fund.”