This was part of a contract from Doddington Dairy Ice Cream to initiate the branding, carton design, point-of-sale material and life-sized Roman centurion figures for its new range of ice cream.

Standing six feet tall, the Doddington Dairy Roman army made its debut at the Hadrian's Wall Country Trade Fair in Hexham.

The Roman figures are now being distributed to stockists of these luxury ice creams the length and breadth of Hadrian's Wall.

Mark Stenton, Lazy Grace's art director, set about hand drawing a bespoke centurion to promote Doddington Dairy's new Roman Britain ice cream.

The battalion of figures is based on Doddington Dairy's existing historical cartoon characters.

Lady Grace founder John Tait said: "We are used to unusual requests but this was probably one of the strangest to date.

"However we love a challenge and we're very proud of own Roman legion."
The three new flavours of Roman ice cream are based on foods available in Roman Britain.

They are Apple and Cinnamon, Cherry and Heather Honey.

In their Roman mosaic-designed 120ml cartons, the ice creams will be available along Hadrian's Wall this summer, guarded by their very own Roman centurion.