A BRAINWAVE could see Dorchester's Roman baths displayed in a cheap and practical way - 25 years after they were first excavated. Heritage enthusiasts and town councillors are hoping to mark out the layout of the protected ancient monument on the car park which covers them and site a display case in the middle to show off some of the finds. The move would provide tourists with a clear guide to the Roman treasures underneath the tarmac, but would only cost a fraction of the cost of re-excavating the site and protecting it against the elements. Members of Dorchester Town Council's heritage committee heard that a full report on the 1977 dig, which uncovered a 400-foot by 250-foot area of what is now the Charles Street car park, may be published by the end of this year if English Heritage can trace original records. The organisation, which schedules ancient monuments to put on its register of historic gems, bungled the 1970s study of the baths and failed to produce an interim report until this year. The committee was told that a specialist had been appointed to assess the cost of putting a full report together. In the meantime the members of the committee debated different ways to bring the baths site to the attention of the public and promote the town to tourists. Committee chairman Stella Jones said: "There are lots of people in Dorchester who feel that we don't use our Roman heritage to the fullest. "It is such a shame that there is nothing to indicate to anybody what is there, but while it would be lovely to have an excavation, that is a long-term aim." Dorset County Council's archaeologist Steve Wallis told the meeting that the technology might become available to preserve the remains, but until then it would be difficult to find a way of displaying them to the public without the site being ruined by the elements. And he said the work to excavate and protect the site could run to £1 million. Coun Mollie Rennie said: "It would be good to have something painted on the ground as a marker to show people what they are looking at. "I think this is something we have to progress because it came up so frequently in the community planning exercise." A display involving lights, a vandal-proof display case and an information board will be investigated.