TWO historical detectives from the Ribble Valley could have struck gold -- or at least silver - after finding a large haul of medieval coins.

Ron Blair, 60, of Windermere Avenue, Clitheroe, and son, James, 37, of Nelson Street, found 28 medieval coins while using their metal detectors in a ploughed field near Ribchester earlier this year.

An inquest ruled the coins were officially treasure and the pair must now wait for an offer of reward" from a museum after they are independently valued The father and son initially started finding coins on the ploughed land near Clitheroe on March 18. They found more coins the following day and returned a week later to complete the search.

Among the silver coins they found were pennies, halfpennies, groats and half groats from the time of Edward I and Edward II, Henry V and Henry VI. The earliest date back to 1351 and the latest were minted around 1427.

"We have no idea how much it will be but we are not expecting a fortune," said Ron.

When we were given permission to search the land we agreed to split anything we found of value 50/50 with the landowner and that is what we will be doing."

Auctioneer Steven Parkinson, of Silverwoods, who are based at Clitheroe Auction Mart, said that a similar collection went under the hammer in Somerset last year.

At that auction the silver coins averaged approximately £30 each while the groats went to £110.

Mr Parkinson said: "They could be looking at around £1,000 but really condition is paramount."

Fortunately for Ron and James the coins were in good condition.

The Portable Antiquities Schemes finds liaison officer for Lancashire and Cumbria, Dot Bruns, dealt with the case and said: "This is quite a significant find for the county. I don't think we have had a find this large for at least the last five or six years."

Miss Bruns confirmed that while no decision had been made on behalf of the British Museum, it was unlikely to "buy" them because they were of regional rather than national importance.

She added: "They are of significant regional importance and it is hoped that a museum in Lancashire will buy them."

A report from the British Museum said the face value of the coins was five shillings and three pence, equivalent in today's terms to between £50 and £100. If no museum wants the coins they will be returned to the finders.