BRONZE Age axe and spearheads, sword blades and metal ingots dating back to 800 BC have been discovered in a field at Hollingbourne.

The extent of the hoard was revealed by an excavation at the weekend following the discovery in January of an axe-head and sword blade by a metal detector user.

David Button, of Borden Lane, Sittingbourne, reported his find to Kent County Council finds liaison officer, Dr Andrew Richardson, immediately after making the discovery.

And when they and farmer, Michael Summerfield, carried out a further search of the field a few days later, they found 15 bronze objects.

A full excavation was subsequently carried out at the weekend, with the agreement of the farmer, and a further 17 objects found.

Some were still in the original pit in which they were buried, now just half a metre below the surface of the ground. It is thought that they were a bronze-smith's hoard, left for safe keeping 2,800 years ago.

The hoard is the first in the country to be found since the new Treasure Act came into force on January 1, extending the definition of treasure to prehistoric metal objects other than gold and silver.

Mr Button reported his find through the Portable Antiquities scheme which encourages members of the public to voluntarily report any archaeological finds.

Dr Richardson said: "David Button had never found anything remotely like this

In eight years as a detectorist and as an archaeologist I had never dealt with anything like it.

"It was very exciting, but equally importantly it shows that the Portable Antiquities scheme really working. The detectorist recognised that archaeological assistance was necessary and the archaeologists ensured that the hoard was systematically investigated and recorded in context."

The dig involved archaeologists from Kent County Council's Heritage Conservation team, assisted by local volunteers from Maidstone Area Archaeological Group, North Downs Young Archaeologists and Lenham Archaeological Society.

KCC cabinet member for strategic planning, Cllr Grahame Weston (Con), said: "This is a significant find and a good example of the wealth of Kent's historic heritage. It is even more intriguing when the objects are discovered just below the surface--history at your fingertips."

Under the Treasure Act, the objects will eventually be valued and Mr Button, and the landowner, John Batchelor, are likely to receive a reward.

The objects are being kept safe by the KCC before being transferred for processing under the Act.