A METAL detecting enthusiast from Bolton who usually finds old buttons and coins was shocked to unearth a 400-year-old gold ring in a Nottinghamshire field.

Mark Stephan had just been about to give up searching for the day after getting drenched in torrential rain when he found the ring.

He suspected it was made of gold, but had no idea the mud-encrusted piece of jewellery could date back as far as the Tudor or early Stuart period.

The 37-year-old warehouse supervisor, who has been a keen member of the Bolton and District Prospectors Club for the past six years, had the ring validated by the British Museum in London. Mark, of Ainsworth Street, Halliwell, is hopeful he will receive a reward for the lucky find, which he unearthed when he was on a coach trip with his fellow Bolton metal detectors 12 months ago.

The ring, which is called a "posy" ring and is inscribed with "Kepe me in mynde", will be examined by an independent evaluation committee before a final value is decided.

Mark recently gave evidence about the discovery at a treasure trove inquest in Nottingham, which concluded that the item should be classed as a treasure and the city's Castle Museum is now bidding for it. A keeper of decorative arts at the museum told the inquest that posy rings were used either as wedding bands or given as a token of love, and that his find was one of the most impressive she had seen.

Mark, who is married to Gaenor and has a five-year-old son called Joshua, said: "When I found the ring I was fed up and about to stop searching.

"I was thrilled and amazed to find out how old it was. It's fascinating to hold something in your hands that is 400 years old.

"I often pick up Victorian items, but I don't think I'll ever find something like this again."