Two North Yorkshire metal detector enthusiasts found hidden treasure... then had to hand it over because of the law.

Marjorie Dandy, of Thornton-le-Clay, discovered what she believed to be a pendant while using her metal detector on land at Dunnington.

And Derek Myers, of Haxby, dug up a hoard of 20 bronze coins on land near Haxby.

But when Mrs Dandy took her find to the Yorkshire Museum, staff realised it was a Royalist badge, dating from the execution of King Charles I in 1649. And Mr Myers' find turned out to be a slice of York's Roman past.

Mrs Dandy's badge carries an image of the king on one side and the Royal Arms on the other.

It is made of 99 per cent pure silver on the inside, with a gold coating on the outside.

Craig Barclay, of the Yorkshire Museum, said of Mr Myers' find: "They're part of a much bigger hoard which was found a few years ago."

He said the coins carry a variety of designs, including one of the Emperor Constantius II spearing a barbarian, with the Latin legend, The Return Of More Fortunate Times, and they date from the fourth century AD.

Mr Barclay said: "It's an interesting find because it's an intrinsic part of the history of the City of York."

Unfortunately for the two finders, both of their discoveries fit the legal definition of treasure, and as such become the property of the state to be added to the collection of the Yorkshire Museum.

"I was a bit disappointed, really," said Mrs Dandy.

"It would have been nice to have had it for a short time to gloat over. But it's good that other people will get to see it."

Under treasure laws, the finders should be paid the value of the artefacts when they are eventually valued by the State.

Expert Anthony Wilson, from London auction house Christies, said: "York was a Royalist stronghold and there was a mint there. Silver royalist badges are not uncommon, but it is very unusual to find one in the ground that has been lost."

He said such a badge in good condition would be likely to fetch £300 to £400 at auction, but it may have depreciated from being in the ground. He said bronze Roman coins were not likely to be particularly valuable.

Mrs Dandy told the coroner's inquest into her find that she hoped the museum would keep it out on display.

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