Gladitorial battles could soon be raging in Lincolnshire if one man's Roman recruitment drive is successful.

Adrian Raynor-Krill, of Almond Crescent, off Skellingthorpe Road, Lincoln, wants to set up his own gladiator re-enactment society to tour the county and put on displays to recreate epic man to man battles.

Mr Raynor-Krill (55) has created his own gladiatorial outfit by contacting leather-workers and craftsmen across the world and his kit closely mirrors that of the men who were often hero worshipped by the Roman people.

He said: "It is about reaching people about the time and getting them interested.

"I have always been passionate about Roman times and I want to find people to share it with.

"There are groups that do reenactments of the military side of things but I haven't found any which just concentrate on gladiatorial things."

Mr Raynor-Krill wants to call his group Lindum Colonia Gladiatores, as Lindum Colonia was the Roman name for Lincoln.

Excavations of amphitheatres and the graves of some gladiators indicate that gladiators fought in Britain.

Collections Officer at The Collection in Lincoln Antony Lee said: "Gladiators are one aspect of the Roman world that always causes fascination to us.

"The idea of such a brutal death sport being mass entertainment amazes and disgusts us in equal measure.

"Gladiators were highly trained and valuable athletes, and their trainers were keen to keep them alive for as many fights as possible."

Anybody interested should contact Mr Raynor-Krill on (01522) 828892.

For more on plans to form a Gladiator reenactment group, see Monday's Echo.