GUESTS watched as Dorchester's controversial Roman water feature gushed into life at an opening ceremony.

Councillor Peter Scott, from Dorchester Town Council, performed the honours with designer Peter Osborne and town crier Alistair Chisholm hailed the occasion.

The national Conservation Foundation also awarded the landmark a Wessex Watermark, which is presented to top environmental projects within the Wessex Water area.

The ceremony came after critics from Dorchester Civic Society branded the fountain 'pathetic'.

Mr Chisholm, a tourist guide, said: "It is an intriguing feature. I was delighted that it had gone from conception to creation in less than three years, and that we have something recognising our Roman past."

He added: "With any piece of public art or architecture, people are going to have different views."

Saxon Homes placed the feature on the junction of Princes Street and Somerleigh Road on the former Dorset County Hospital development to mark the spot where the Romans had their main water distribution point in Dorchester. It has running water and will be illuminated at night.