Tickets are £10 and must be bought in advance. Cheques payable to ‘Colchester Archaeological Trust’ can be sent to Darius Laws at 12 Lexden Road, Colchester, CO3 3NF or contact him at loveromancolchester@hotmail.co.uk.

Donations have come primarily from individuals in Colchester, together with businesses and other organisations, and from people around the world who had been inspired by the discovery of the biggest Roman archaeological monument found in Britain and Northern Europe. Over 2,300 people are following the story on Facebook.

A pledge of £30,000 by Colchester Borough Council was triggered when the appeal reached £170,000, making the total £200,000.

The appeal succeeded despite a zero budget and the fact that it was entirely volunteer led. The only costs to Colchester Archeaological Trust were in terms of their staff time and guidance, for which the appeal team are most grateful.

The appeal has even been contacted by enthusiasts from Circus Maximus in Rome, inviting charioteers from Britain’s Roman Circus to enter a team into a Roman Chariot ‘Biga’ racing event they hope to organise in Rome in their Circus.

“We are overwhelmed by the response to the appeal to Save Britain’s only Roman Circus” says Wendy Bailey, a member of the Appeal Team and Chair of Destination Colchester “people from all over the UK and the world have sent money and good will messages – via FaceBook, Twitter and through the website”.

“This puts us in a very strong position to complete the financial package now required to purchase the site of the eight Roman starting gates which lie beneath the garden of the Victorian Sergeants’ Mess” said Peter Herring, project manager for the site managed by Colchester Archaeological Trust.

The Save the Roman Circus Appeal will stay open and ongoing as news of the historic find and its future gains supporters and donations from around the world.

Please come and join us for a celebratory photocall this afternoon, Saturday 27 February, at 2pm. We’ve invited local newspapers, radio and TV to come and film the Roman Circus appeal supporters (that’s you, and lots of people like you!).

We’ll meet at the former Sergeants Mess building for about 30 minutes. Please wear wellies! It is very muddy.

To make sure that all our supporters in the local media have an equal chance to report the formal announcement of the result of the Appeal it will be embargoed until the morning of Monday 1 March, so we can’t give you the details yet. But we expect to have some very good news!

We are inviting as many people as possible who have helped us with the Appeal including politicians, journalists, donors, organisers, schools and members of supporting organisations. It is not our intention to leave anyone out so please pass on this invitation to anyone who we might have left off the list (and also to your friends!)

He told us: “I think it’s really important to preserve this country’s history. This is the only chariot racing circus ever found in this country, and in Roman times chariot racing was as popular as football is today. So as an ex professional footballer, and football manager it seems fitting to support Colchester in saving the Roman Circus.”

Elizabeth Cannon Antiques in Crouch Street, Colchester, has this morning handed over £1000 to the appeal. Mrs Cannon raised it in just nine days through the sale of some fine small glasses.

She created an attractive window display complete with a model of a Roman chariot and with a backdrop of two 200-year-old paintings of Colchester, and a poster indicating that all sales were being donated to the appeal.

On handing over the donation this morning, Mrs Cannon was keen to thank all the people who had come in to the shop to buy the items. A Colcestrian herself, and the daughter of a former Mayor of Colchester, she said she was delighted with the warm comments that she had received from shoppers about the Roman Circus and the efforts to ensure it was saved for all to view and enjoy.

Isobel Merry (l) and Elizabeth Cannon (r) with the display raising funds for the Roman Circus appeal

In fact, she will have raised over £1,000 for the appeal as two shoppers made additional donations under Gift Aid, and there are still more glasses for sale.

Football fans at Colchester United v Oldham last Saturday showed their support for the Roman Circus appeal by donating £1084.

Fans were treated to the sight of a Roman charioteer parading around the edge of the pitch with this two horses. Professional film stuntman Andy Butcher donated his time to help the appeal make an impact with football fans.

He was joined by a band of volunteers with buckets collecting from the fans, together with the doughty Jess Jephcott in full Roman soldier costume.

The crowd was very supportive and many of them wished the volunteers well with the campaign.

On the day we were delighted to hear that football legend Terry Venables had given his support to the Roman Circus Appeal.

So, thank you to Colchester United for all the help and support. They’ve been featuring the Roman Circus appeal on their big screen at all their home matches this year. And thank you to the many people who gave on the day.

They will also donate £1 for every print quotation they receive from local companies who quote “Roman Circus” from now until 30 April 2010.  Contact sales@printwize.co.uk or 01376 500900.

So, £9,000 in five days. Can we do it? Thank you to everyone who has given already. We’re hoping that enough people will now chose to come forward and make a gift to get us to the target.

She has spoken exclusively to the appeal to share her thoughts on the Colchester Roman Circus and why she believes it is important.

“When we first moved to the Colchester area someone told me that if you looked down the hole when men were digging up the road you would see the blackened layer which marks the burning of Colchester by Boudicca in AD61. Ever since I have walked round peering down every hole I see! History is there, everywhere, beneath our feet in this town and every time someone puts in a spade, more history emerges – usually briefly, to be quickly hidden beneath yet more development. We have to move forwards, of course we do, but from time to time the chance occurs to preserve some of that history and allow us to see it and to keep it safe, to let our imaginations have free rein.

“A Roman circus! Horses, chariots, thousands of spectators. Imagine the ghosts there must be there! The sound of voices cheering, the thunder of hoof beats, the rattle of wheels, the chink of harness. And behind the scenes, heroes, celebrities, wags, bookies; fortunes made and lost. Hopes and fears, dreams and nightmares.

“We have this once in a life time chance to capture those dreams and echoes and to save this unique place. And we have the chance to create a new centre where Colchester can celebrate its amazing history. Somewhere not just for us but for our children and our children’s children, so they can hear again the cheers and feel the excitement, and see the activities of the town celebrated with a display they can be proud of, and an attraction which draws visitors from all over the world.

“Imagine how awful it would be to have to admit that we failed. That we weren’t interested. That we didn’t care. We can’t let that happen. Can we.”