THE most significant Viking treasure to be found in Britain in the last 150 years will be coming home this summer.

The Vale of Viking Hoard was found by metal detectorists in January 2007 and bought by the Yorkshire Museum in York and the British Museum in 2009.

Since then it has been on show in Berlin, Copenhagen and in London as part of the British Museum’s blockbuster exhibition Vikings: Life and Legend, and has not been on show in Yorkshire since 2012.

However it will now be on display in the Yorkshire Museum from July 3.

Keeper of numismatics Andrew Woods said: “The Vale of York Viking Hoard is without doubt one of the most important Viking discoveries ever made in Britain and its significance can be seen by the interest shown by some of Europe’s most prestigious museums.

“We are delighted that it will be back on show in York this summer. Since it was last here in 2012, fresh research and discoveries mean we will be able to re-interpret the hoard from interesting new perspectives.”

The return of the hoard to the Yorkshire Museum coincides with a second major cultural event - the reopening of the York Art Gallery after an £8m development. Both lie within the original precinct of St Mary’s Abbey.