Metal detecting for buried treasure is a growing pastime as more and more ancient hoards of coins are unearthed on the Downs, but now as JOANNE KELLY reports Government cash will mean Wiltshire's historic finds will be preserved for ever.

EVERY weekend metal detectors are out in force in Wiltshire searching for buried treasure lost many centuries ago by Iron Age man, Roman legions and medieval travellers.

Last week, a miniature Roman axe with a gold ring found by a metal-detecting enthusiast near Calne, was declared treasure trove by Wiltshire Coroner David Masters.

But many of the interesting finds unearthed in this way go uncatalogued. Now an award-winning scheme will ensure Wiltshire's heritage is preserved forever.

In 1997 the Portable Antiquities Scheme was introduced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in a bid to encourage people to report archaeological finds.

The scheme is now on its way to Wiltshire, and by 2003 the county will have its own finds liaison officer.

The county's archaeologist Roy Canham said everyone involved, from the county's museums to the record office was very keen to see the scheme implemented and the history of the county properly preserved.

"It is very good news for the county. There have always been problems with people actually reporting what they have found and where," he said.

"This information is vital to the county, its records and its heritage."

One of the biggest finds by a Wiltshire man was made by Martin Elliott from Seend. He and his cousin Kevin shared £265,000 after finding a hoard of Roman coins on their uncle's land in Somerset in September 1998.

At the time he described the value of the coins as a huge shock.

He used the money to buy a new house and set up his own business.

He said at the time: "Seeing the coins in in a proper display case al beautifully presented will be as exciting as the initial discovery."

Marlborough teenager John Philpots knew his hobby was considered a bit sad by his friends but he had the last laugh when he found £50,000 of Roman gold coins in the Pewsey Vale.

Other treasure hunters have not had such rich pickings but still enjoy the thrill of what they might find. Michael Hiscock, of Seend, has been a metal-detector enthusiast for 25 years or more.

He said the appointment of a finds liaison officer could bridge the gap between archaeologists and metal detector enthusiasts.

"It may stop the arguments between archaeologists and metal detectors," he said. "Archaeologists seem to think we dig up the heritage and put it in our private collections."

Every year in England and Wales there are thousands of chance archaeological finds.

The majority are found by metal-detector users and only a small proportion are ever recorded.

County archaeologist Wendy Smith, who works at both Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre and Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes, has studied metal-detecting and welcomes the new scheme.

"The officer will be able to talk to those involved and it will encourage people to report their finds," she said.

Treasure hunting factfile

Bromham, Wiltshire: Medieval silver strap-end, was found by Lloyd Earley in September 1998 while searching with a metal-detector.

Gastard, Wiltshire: Roman gold bar fragment found in November 1998 by Duncan Carrier with a metal detector.

Marlborough, Wiltshire: third century AD Roman gold ring found in August 1999 by Mark Thomas while he was out with a metal-detector.

Roundway, Wiltshire: a post-medieval gold posy ring was found by Lloyd Earley in February 1999.

The treasure Act 1996 applies to all ownerless objects found that fulfil the definition of treasure (An object other than coins provided it contains at least 10 per cent of gold or silver and is at least 300 years old; coins, provided they are at least 300 years old when found, but if the coins contain less that 10 per cent gold or silver there must be at least 10 of them)

Inquests will usually only be held on objects that a registered museum wishes to acquire. If the inquest finds the object not treasure it is returned to the finder. If it is declared treasure, a valuation will be prepared.

Rewards are paid for treasure to encourage the reporting of finds.

Metal detectors range in price from under £100 to more than £1,000.

Equipment can be bought through the internet, specialist shops and specialist magazines such as The Searcher.