A metal Detecting enthusiast has struck gold by unearthing the biggest hoard of Bronze Age treasure found in Britain, worth £1 million.

Gardener Steve Taylor, 46, discovered over 40 gold and bronze bracelets, rings and weapons in a field. Experts estimate the objects - dating from 1300 to 1100BC - could be worth £1million. The cash will be split 50-50 between Steve and the landowner after a coroner ruled the items were treasure.

Steve said yesterday, 'it should be enough for me to pay off all the bills. I was ecstatic when I realised what I had found. I wasn't doing it for a profit but I spent thousands and thousands of hours traipsing across fields."

An inquest into the find heard Steve located it in a field his boss owns near Cirencester, Glos.

A british Museum expert told the hearing that, pieced together, the fragments made at least 38 gold and five bronze objects.

Steve from Hatherley, Cheltenham said "There is probably more - the rest may turn up in the ploughing"

Reproduced from an article published in THe Mirror on Feb 24th 2006, courtesy of Richard Smith