CHRISTMAS came early for metal-detecting fanatic Gary Nimmo when a coroner ruled that the rare Viking coin he unearthed is "treasure trove."

The decision by Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg means the silver coin will become the property of the museum service - and Mr Nimmo could be paid up to £1,000 for it.

Mr Nimmo, 34, of Chestnut Street, Garston, Liverpool, was about to give up searching the site near the River Weaver when he struck lucky.

The found coin is almost pure silver and the finder will be given its cash value.

Similar coins have been valued at up to £1,000.

Mr Nimmo is a member of the South Lancashire and Cheshire Metal Detecting Club and had been searching farmland at Aston for five years when he found the coin in September last year. He had previously unearthed Roman, medieval and Bronze Age items.

He found the Viking coin under four inches of earth on the highest point of the land.

The coroner said the British Museum believed the half-ounce coin was moulded in sand or earth and was probably used for trade in the late 9th or early 10th century.