Two treasure hunters unearthed a Bronze Age ring, an inquest heard.

Metal detector enthusiasts Brian Simpson and Ken Mordle, both from Midhurst, made the startling find when they were searching a field at West Lavant Farm, Lavant, near Chichester.

Pub landlord Brian, who has been going metal detecting with his friends Ken and Edward Gliaubertas for the past eight years, was scanning a freshly ploughed field, north of the farm, when his equipment picked up something metal in the ground.

Underneath just eight inches of soil was the ancient ring.

At the hearing in Chichester, Coroner Roger Stone recorded the find as treasure and said: "The British Museum confirmed, in their view, it was a pen-annular ring of the Late Bronze Age.

"It had a gold content of 73 per cent and a silver content of 23 per cent. It weighed 10.08 grams".

Mr Stone said the ring was thought to have been made between 1159 BC and 750 BC.

The historic find was on January 10, 2002.

Brian of the Wheatsheaf Inn, Midhurst, said: "It was still shiny and I actually almost threw it away - I thought it was a bit of brass."

Although they will not make any money from the ring, Brian said: "Sometimes people find pots of money but it does not matter what it is.

"When you find something, you are the first person to actually touch it in hundreds of years and to me that's more interesting."

Chichester District Museum will attempt to acquire the ring, which is currently being held at the British Museum in London.