A lorry driver from Bristol has made a big discovery in the countryside of South Gloucestershire.

Ray Duncan, 55, from Horfield, has been a keen metal detector since taking up the hobby last summer.

However, over the weekend he made a discovery beyond his wildest dreams when he found treasure in a South Gloucestershire field.

Mr Duncan – who practices his hobby every weekend – came across 13 silver sixpences and shillings spread over the area of two large tractor tyre tracks.

Each of the coins displayed King William III’s profile on them – making them 350 years old.

“I’ve never found anything like that, nothing whatsoever,” said Mr Duncan.

“These are not common. I’m amazed.

“At first I was just happy to find one. I found a William and Mary coin before but to find these is a bit more exciting.

“Finding just one was great and when I found the second hole with two more in it I couldn’t believe it.”

https://youtu.be/8HbbWIKt5G4

Ray also found a brown clasp in the vicinity of the coins which may have formed part of a purse, and he believes a woman may have dropped it leading to the coins being buried there after centuries of the field being ploughed.

Legally Mr Duncan was required to report the find to the coroner for Avon and he is therefore unable to disclose the exact location of the find and the value of the coins.

However, searches online reveal the individual coins could be worth in excess of £200 each – but as a unit Mr Duncan believes the treasure could be worth anything.

And there could be more. The coroner has told Mr Duncan to return to the site and make sure he hasn’t missed anything.

“They’re better off in a museum than with me,” he said. “There will be a plaque saying I found them and I will receive the full value.

“I’ll know where they are, that they’re kept safe and that everyone can see them.”

Mr Duncan has been invited to present his treasure and other finds at an event at Bristol’s Blaise Castle in July.