The so-called Regina stone stood in the car park of the old South Shields Asda site for 15 years.

However, after the Ocean Road store closed last month in readiness for Asda's relocation to Coronation Street, workers from the nearby Arbeia Roman Fort removed the stone to make sure it wasn't damaged.

The replica was placed at the site in Coston Drive to mark the spot where the original was unearthed in 1878.

The original is already on display in the Baring Street fort's museum, and now the replica will also be kept there.

Graeme Stobbs, archaeological project manager at Arbeia, said: "We don't know what is happening to the land now that Asda has closed, and we wanted to remove it to avoid any further damage. It was painted when we put it in, but that has worn away, and repairs have been made over the years.

"We have just taken it for safe keeping.

"The plan at the moment is to keep it at Arbeia and maybe put it in the herb garden, but it could end up back at the site again, depending on
who takes it over."

The replica stone was created in memory of Regina, a liberated slave, and put in place in February 1994. Regina was a British native from St Albans, Herefordshire, and her husband Barates was a Palmyrene from Syria believed to have been stationed at Arbeia.

An inscription on the stone reads: "To the spirits of the departed and of Regina, freedwoman and wife of Barates of Palmyra, Catuvellauni by birth, died aged 30," in Latin, and "Regina, the freedwoman of Barates, alas" in Palmyrene.

The site of the Roman cemetery is believed to lie beneath the former supermarket.

The replica stone was carved by stonemason John Jackson, from North Shields.

Asda provided the space within the car park and donated £550 towards a plaque offering information about the tombstone.

Ken McQueen, chief technician at the fort, helped to put the stone in place and was there again to take it away.