A lost wedding ring has been returned to its owner more than a decade after it disappeared among the vegetation on Tony Evans' allotment.

Tony thought it was lost forever when years of hunting proved fruitless.

He called off the search when he finally gave up the allotment in 2000.

More than a decade after the ring slipped from his finger, the 74-year-old has been reunited with it thanks to a sharp-eyed eight-year-old boy.

The discovery delighted the former brewery worker and his wife Maggie, 66, of Winterbourne Close, Lewes, and comes as welcome good news for the couple as Tony has been struggling with ill-health in recent years.

The ring was spotted by Tommy Jennings as he helped his mum Rebecca, twin brother Gabi and 12-year-old sister Tati clear the allotment when they took over the plot in April.

The family, of St James Street, Lewes, took several months to track down the ring's rightful owner.

Rebecca, 43, a teacher at Priory School, Lewes, said: "We asked people at the allotments if they knew who owned the plot before us and eventually someone told us Tony's name and address.

"When we dropped it into Maggie's hands she took one look at it and burst into tears. It was overwhelming."

Maggie said the return of the ring has lifted her husband's spirits. The couple celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in two years and have one son and three grandchildren.

They will have to get the band made smaller as Tony has lost weight.

Maggie said: "We were both very upset when the ring went missing.

"We looked for it almost every time we went up to the allotment.

"We didn't buy a new one because it wasn't necessary. Rings are meant to be a symbol of eternity and we had been married such a long time we knew we would always stay together anyway.

"When Tommy handed it back we were both overjoyed."

At first Tommy was slightly disappointed to hand over his treasure but cheered up when he realised how much joy his find gave to the couple.

He said: "I was pleased because I saw how happy they were.

"It was great to do something nice for these lovely people."