The Antonine Wall is 2,000 years old and was built in AD142 to fend off Scots tribesmen. It is widely viewed as one of the most significant Roman remains still in existence and it was the north-west frontier of the entire Roman empire until about AD165.

The wall runs from Bo'ness, in West Lothian, to Old Kilpatrick, in West Dunbartonshire, through Falkirk, Kirkintilloch, Polmont and Bearsden, although it is divided in parts by the road or railways.

World Heritage status was awarded to the wall at the Unesco world heritage summit which is currently meeting in Quebec, Canada. It is the fifth site in Scotland to be recognised by Unesco and the first one since New Lanark was given World Heritage status in 2001.

East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson is thrilled that the wall will now be protected under World Heritage status. She said: "I could not be more delighted with the outcome of this long-awaited decision.

"Adding the Antonine Wall to the World Heritage List will ensure that it receives the full backing of Unesco, in terms of its management and ongoing conservation.

"I'm sure this announcement will spark a renewed interest in Bearsden's Roman legacy, among historians young and old. Now is a great time to use the superb local resources on offer to find out more about a fascinating period in East Dunbartonshire's history.

"The Antonine Wall has been inscribed to the World Heritage List as part of the existing entry encompassing 'Frontiers of the Roman Empire.'"

Robin McSkimming, from Bearsden and a member Milngavie Local History Study Group, said: "The designation of the Antonine Wall as a World Heritage Site will give enormous satisfaction to all local historians.

"Bearsden now has even more to attract visitors, a World Heritage Site, a category A church (New Kilpatrick), Art Deco houses in Kilmardinny and in Westerton a fine example of a garden suburb. Not bad eh?"

About two-thirds of the wall, which was made up of 12ft-high turf ramparts on a stone base, fronted by a deep wide ditch, has survived.

There are also remains of the forts which were built at roughly two-mile intervals and one of the best examples of a Roman bath house is on our doorstep in Bearsden on Roman Road.

This turned out to be one of the best surviving examples of a bath house ever found in Scotland. And although development plans originally involved building on this part of the site, it was left vacant and gifted to the nation by the developer. The remains of the bath house are currently cared for by Historic Scotland.

The Antonine Wall shares World Heritage status with New Lanark, Edinburgh's Old and New Towns, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney and St Kilda in Scotland.