A FATHER and son could be in line for a windfall after a Bronze Age hoard they unearthed in farm fields was declared treasure.

Metal detectorists David and Kevin Hopper found metalwork from 800-900BC while searching land near Barnard Castle last August.

In total the pair, from Bishop Auckland, found 13 copper alloy fragments from five axes, two spearheads and at least two leaf shaped swords.

A treasure trove inquest, held at Crook Civic Centre on Thursday, heard that experts found the pieces consistent with items from the late Bronze Age Ewart Park phase.

Assistant Coroner for County Durham and Darlington Oliver Longstaff said similarities had been drawn between this find and the Gilmonby hoard.

In 1980 a hoard of 123 objects dating from 1000-800BC was found during drainage works near Gilmonby village, in Teesdale, and is still considered one of the most importance Bronze Age hoards in the North. It is now held by the town’s Bowes Museum.

Mr Longstaff, who concluded the hoard qualified as treasure, said: “Congratulations on finding something very special.

“I hope the discovery gave you a great deal of excitement and learning about it gave you interest and pleasure.”

Now the collection has been declared treasure, museums will consider whether they want to acquire it and if they do the finders and landowner could get a reward.

Retired highways inspectors Mr Hopper, 62, believes Palace Green Library, in Durham, is interested.

He said: “We’ve been doing it for three of four years and it was only our first or second time in that field, it was dead quiet then Kevin said ‘look at this’ and out popped a beautiful spearhead.”

Soon their metal detectors came to life and they dug up distinctive items like axe heads and looped spearheads.

“It’s not very often people find a hoard. You pick something out of the ground and think about the last person to hold this and wonder what he was like,” he added.

His 32-year-old son, who works for a fabrication company, said: “It is good to hear it is treasure.”