He has spent 36 years searching for buried treasure – now a metal detectorist has told how he made the discovery of a lifetime in a field near York.
He found a stunning medieval gold ring, engraved with flowers and set with ruby and emerald gemstones, lying six inches below the surface of the soil.
The 50-year-old said he knew straight away he had found something special when he saw first the delicate engraving and then the jewels, glinting in the sunshine, and he dropped to the ground in shock.