The series also reran on British satellite television and aired on The Children's Channel as part of one of its wrapper programmes Roustabout.

The series was based around a struggle between two timeless, feuding sorcerers - the noble Rothgo (Ron Moody) and the evil Belor (Pamela Salem).

The first series followed a group of modern-day children (Phil, Helen and Terry) who find Rothgo, almost lifeless, in a labyrinthine cave.

Belor cannot actually touch the Nidus whilst Rothgo still lives, and so she can only hope to deny him possession of the artefact until he eventually dies.

However, during their battle, the two power sources collide leaving the Albedo destroyed and the Nidus split into five segments which scatter throughout time and space.

Their efforts are yet again hampered by Belor, until the final episode of the second series, when the children manage to reconstitute the Nidus into its former shape of a sword.

Although now no longer able to possess the Nidus (which was lost at the end of the previous series), Belor rises yet againpp and attempts to steal Lazlo's Scarabeus by once again hiding it from him in different historical settings.

The opening and closing book ends for seasons two and three were shot at Stanton Drew stone circle and Glastonbury Tor, respectively.

Several scriptwriters for the series had previously worked on Doctor Who, including co-creator Bob Baker, Robert Holmes, Anthony Read and John Lucarotti.

Lisa Turner had a role in the UK drama Bad Girls, while Simon Henderson played Eddie Hunter in EastEnders.