A Silsden hairdresser has unearthed a "staggering" hoard of ancient gold coins in a farmer's field.

The 27 Celtic gold coins, dating back to the 1st Century AD, have already been dubbed the Silsden Treasure.

They were found by Jeffrey Walbank using a metal detector on farmland at Silsden, near Keighley, earlier this year. He also uncovered an iron finger ring during searches lasting four months.

Some of the coins are particularly unusual because they bear the names of kings and pre-date the Roman Conquest.

Mr Walbank, 49, told a Bradford inquest yesterday how he felt as if he'd "touched time" when he found the coins in August this year.

The inquest heard that the coins have been declared treasure trove and will be valued by the British Museum.

Gavin Edwards, an archaeologist based at the Manor House Museum in Ilkley, described the haul as "a staggering collection." He added: "The make-up of the hoard is quite remarkable. It throws open an awful lot of questions."

Deputy Coroner Mark Hinchliffe said: "The Silsden Treasure shows coins that are in amazing mint condition. They are, in my view, quite awesome.

"I have no doubt we are lucky in this area to have this discovery occur, and I certainly and personally express the hope that it would be possible for the people of Silsden and people in this area to have an opportunity of seeing for themselves this wonderful haul of gold coins."

The coins were minted in the first half of the first century - between 0 and 50 AD before the Romans arrived in Britain.

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