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A rare piece of medieval jewellery has been uncovered by a keen metal detectorist in a Nottinghamshire field.

The gold jewellery has been identified by experts as an early medieval gold ring and it is set to be displayed in a museum.

Martyn Brown, who has been metal detecting for 30 years, found the rare item in Southwell last year.

At an inquest at Nottingham Council House confirmed the find was treasure.

Mr Brown said: "After 30 years my patience has been rewarded. I've found lots of nice things but in terms of treasure this is the first one I've come across.

"I have spent many cold wet days in the middle of a field but when you see a glint of gold the hairs on the back of your neck stand up."

Assistant coroner Stephanie Haskey said the ring would be bought by a museum and thanked the finder for bringing it into the public eye.

She said: "So long as it is over 300 years old and has a percentage of gold or silver then it is a precious and it passes the test for treasure.

"I have identified the finder and the land owner and I also need to note the rough area of the find which was in the Southwell area."

A report into the findings was carried out by Doctor Sue Brunning, a curator at The British Museum.

She said: "It is a gold ring constituting of twisted gold. It is 9cm long and 20 and half grams in weight.

"It could be an iron age neck ring or a gold arm wear from the medieval period.

"It is 71 to 79 percent gold, 19 to 21 percent silver and the rest is copper which fits with the iron age and early medieval period."

Mr Brown, who found the item, said he will carry on looking for treasure because "it is always nice to uncover a bit of our past".