GAZETTE & HERALD: METAL detecting enthusiast Christopher Chandler has struck gold with the discovery of another medieval ring in a field near Chippenham.

Last month a stunning 13th century gold stirrup ring, set with a sapphire, that Mr Chandler uncovered at a different site near the town, was declared treasure trove at an inquest at Chippenham Magistrates Court.

Now the 41-year-old has found another gold ring, which he suspects is 12th or 13th century, with the words 'Ave Marie gracia plena,' which means hail Mary full of grace, in Latin, inscribed on the outside of the band.

Mr Chandler, who has been a metal detecting enthusiast for the past six-years, suspects the medieval ring may have belonged to a member of the nobility because peasants could not afford gold or silver objects.

He added that he found a third medieval gold ring in September, set with either an amethyst or garnet stone, which is currently in the hands of the British Museum.

Mr Chandler is delighted with the finds, but said that for each find he has spent thousands of hours researching sites and digging holes only to find nothing.

"There's a lot of research with many fruitless hours," he said. "It's not easy."

"Sometimes you need hours researching a site before even trying to ask permission to go on it, and then it takes many more hours before you find anything nice.

"For the first couple of weeks I dug up nothing but shot gun cartridges and buttons and then I found a Charles I shilling and I was hooked."

Mr Chandler, from Cardiff, also spoke out in favour of responsible metal detecting and encouraged

other metal-detectors to declare their finds.

He said it is important because it is one way of helping to preserve our past.

"Everything you find may not have a great deal of financial worth, but I feel they are priceless," he said.

"These are particularly nice artefacts and should be in a museum where everyone can enjoy them."

Curator of Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre Mike Stone, said: "These finds are quite exciting.

"You do get the odd ring, but to find three around Chippenham is quite unusual.

"But it is not surprising in the sense that this area has always been rich agricultural land, so it is not surprising that local lords has these kind of trinkets to go with their wealth.

"It's always nice to see quality objects.

"I think the buzz you get is that you never know what's going to come up next."