Ref. 26715-6A GOLD ring found by a Swindon metal detecting enthusiast has officially been declared treasure and the property of the Crown.

David Ebbage found the rare Roman jewellery, which is more than 1,600 years old, in a field near Cirencester.

An inquest had to be held to decide whether it was classed as treasure. Because of its age and precious metal content, it is now the property of the state.

The Corinium Museum in Cirencester has declared an interest in obtaining it for its collection.

Mr Ebbage, 61, of Eldene, who is a member of the Wyvern Historical and Detector Society, found the antiquity on Good Friday 2002 on land occupied and managed by the Royal Agricultural College at Harnhill, near Cirencester. It was bent but intact.

He said: "It's always nice to find a Roman artefact and gold rings are pretty rare.

"To find one like this is very nice. I think it was lost when it was fairly new as it showed little sign of wear.

"It's very exciting when you find something. You never know exactly what it is. It could be a ring-pull or it could be a coin.

''It's very satisfying when you see them on display in a museum."

The trinket has been named the The Harnhill Ring after the area where it was found.

The site was once a Roman building complex. Previous finds there have included roof tiles, remnants of mosaic and evidence of underfloor heating.

Other rings have also been found but most have been bronze. Analysis at the British Museum found this ring was around 95 per cent gold.

Under the Treasure Act 1996, objects other than coins are classed as treasure if they are at least 300 years old and contain 10 per cent gold or silver.

The ring will now be valued and the money raised will be divided between the finder, the tenant and the owner of the land.

Cheltenham and district coroner Lester Maddrell said the level of gold was "most unusually pure".

Members of the Wyvern Historical and Detector Society have been successful in their hunt for historical mementos.

Other items that have also been declared treasure include a Tudor brooch and a collection of Roman coins. Some of their finds are on display at the Swindon Museum and art gallery in Bath Road.

Another member of the society, David Philpotts, said the success of the club was down to a combination of luck and growing experience of metal detecting.

He said: "More people are interested in the hobby now and the relationship with the heritage community is very good.

"I think people realise what we do on a voluntary basis in terms of finding and recording heritage.

"There is a positive vibe, and every member is interested in history.

"We are not just treasure hunters trying to grab attention."