A special Roman festival is due to take place over the first May Bank Holiday weekend and will involve the Market Place and the old Roman fort site, named Derventio, in Old Maltongate.

The town's Market Place will be renamed The Forum and host chariot races involving human horses, Roman cookery, hair and make-up demonstrations, a play, music, dancing and a head-in-the-hole display for photo shoots. A major re-enactment group called Victus represent the 9th Legion who, historians believe, built the first fortress, Derventio, in Malton before moving on to York or Eboracum.

The idea has come from Graham Harris, who managed the Roman Bath Museum in York but lives in Malton and is being backed by the local Business in Action group.

The re-enactment group also has a strong auxiliary soldiers section which is appropriate as Derventio was manned by auxiliaries for most of its long life.

He said: "Strongest of all is their extensive living history camp which recreates a Vicus – the civilian settlement which always sprang up outside a fort or fortress. We are arranging for military displays to take place within the site of the fort. They also have a wonderful British section recreating the tribes who lived here well before the Romans arrived."

The re-enactors will be accompanied by Mr Harris' own group – the 6th Legion based in York – with simulated battles, projectile weapon displays, an armoury and a tented area with replica Roman and British weapons and a Kiddie drill where children can dress up as Roman soldiers. The living history camp will comprise up to 15 tents with diferent displays.

Some restaurants will offer a Roman theme and there will also be a Miss Derventio competition where the winner will be made up in a Roman-style costume and be carried around in a Roman taxi known as a palanquin. Also planned are a Russell Crowe lookalike competition, a hog roast, a beer tent, a wine festival and a Toga party.