CASH has been pouring in for the replica Roman mosaic now at Prinknash Abbey as Five Valleys folk show their support for the modern masterpiece.

The historic replica was created by the Woodward brothers who painstakingly recreated the famed Orpheus Pavement of Woodchester using millions of tiny tiles, or tesserrae. The impressive piece took brothers Bob and John over a decade to create but since its completion it has sadly spent most of its life under wraps.

The replica's own history has been troubled, as despite the best efforts of those responsible for it the mosaic have struggled to find it a permanent home.

Earlier this year the amazing artefact finally went on show in the stunning grounds of Prinknash Abbey where the monks have set up a parallel exhibition charting the history of their monastic order.

The original, buried beneath a Woodchester graveyard on the site of an ancient Roman villa, is unlikely to ever be uncovered again as archaeology boffins say the damage from the elements would be too great.

A trust has been set up to secure the replica mosaic's future and ensure it stays in the county where it belongs, rather than being shipped elsewhere in the country or even abroad.

So far generous donors have sent almost £600 to the SNJ appeal which will be passed on to the trust.

Anyone else who would like to help support this local treasure can send cheques made payable to Orpheus Roman Pavement Trust to Mosaic Appeal, Stroud News & Journal, Lansdown, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 1BE.