A couple of Wiltshire natives have been summoned to appear before Swindon Magistrates' Court accused of illegal metal detecting.

Dean Martin Bunce, 39 of Moorlands in Chippenham and Thomas Cole, 25, of Castle Road in Salisbury were arrested on Thursday, July 21 on suspicion of metal detecting on the protected scheduled monument of Cunetio.

Cunetio is an ancient Roman town located near to Mildenhall, which is a short distance from Marlborough.

“Bunce has been summoned that without lawful excuse he destroyed or damaged a protected monument, namely Roman Town Cunetio, knowing that it was a protected monument and intending to destroy or damage the monument or being reckless as to whether the monument would be destroyed or damaged, contrary to section 28 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979,” a spokesperson from Wiltshire Police said.

“Cole has been summoned that he used a metal detector within the scheduled area of the boundary of the Roman Town Cunetio without the written consent of the Commission, Contrary to section 42(1) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.”

The pair have been summoned to appear before Swindon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, December 21.