VISITOR numbers at Caerleon Roman Fortress Baths have reached an all-time high this year thanks to high-tech digital interpretation features.

New figures from the Welsh Government's historic environment service, Cadw, show 40,800 people visited between January and November this year - up 20 per cent on the same period in 2011.

Since 2010, nearly 150,000 visitors have stepped back in time and seen history brought to life through technology, including animated touch screen games and a light and sound show to create the illusion of 3D swimmers using the historic baths.

The enhanced visitor experience also includes information panels, audio posts and humorous silent films as well as shelves full of objects to touch, which help build a picture of what life would have been like for an off-duty legionnaire in Roman Britain.

Head custodian, Julia Hawley, said it was fantastic to see the numbers increasing year on year.

She said: "The baths have been incredibly popular with families over the last twelve months, especially when the weather has been bad and parents have been looking for free, fun, indoor activities for the kids. It's great to see that so many schoolchildren are coming on class trips and returning again with mum and dad."