A SET of 3,000-year-old Bronze Age tools found by a Welshpool detectorist have been declared treasure at an inquest.

The hoard, discovered in a field, consists of two socketed axes and a socketed gouge broken into two parts.

Peter Reavill, from the Shropshire Portable Antiquities Team, said the tools were 'undoubtedly' from the Bronze Age.

He said: "The objects reported herein consist of four contemporaneous late Bronze Age artefacts recovered in the same field and in relative proximity to each other.

"One axe and the socketed gouge were discovered within a few meters of each other.

"The other axe was approximately 150 meters away from the group being recovered from the same cultivation line indicative of being moved by agricultural machinery during ploughing.

"Given the proximity of the finds and the likelihood of later disturbance by agricultural activity, it is most likely the objects described were intentionally deposited together.

"Thus, there is no doubt that these four objects all date from the same archaeological phase and were deliberately placed together in the ground around 3,000 years ago."

The tools were discovered on land near Baschurch, by two detectorists, from Chester and Welshpool, respectively.

An inquest was held by Shropshire coroner John Ellery on Thursday, July 22 to determine whether the find could be regarded as treasure.

He said: "This had been reported as potential treasure, and I'm also told the Shropshire County Museums Service have expressed an interest.

"There is no doubt that these four objects all date from the same archaeological phase where they reminded until they were found."

"Drawing on this I declare this hoard of objects treasure."