An archaeological researcher has discovered gold coins, thought to have been buried with an Anglo-Saxon king nearly 1,500 years ago, in a Chelmsford field.

Chris Kutler, 54, found the coins on the fifth morning of his search at the same field where he had found two similar coins 20 years ago.

He said: “After I had found the first two, 20 years ago, I went back and didn’t find anything. This time I focused on a smaller square bordering the former finding place.

“I do a lot of research before to see the ancient routes. They generally lived above the floodplain of a river and this location was exactly that.”

Mr Kutler decided to return to the site after reading an article that suggested there could be more coins hidden in the ground.

He said: “I started collected data about place names so I would locate the name of the place, and then the field names will indicate archaeological activity.

“There could be more, it’s a burial site, so there’s a chance. If you find one coin there are probably many.

“I’ve known a couple of hoards like this and they had more coins to be found.

“These are from the Crondall Hoard - 21 of this type have been found and only four were found outside Essex.”

The hoard has been sent to the British Museum for analysis and valuation, which is expected at somewhere between £5,000 and £10,000, although the coins won’t be placed for sale on the open market.

The coins date back to 640AD, so if the research from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford confirms they contain 10 percent gold, they will be classed a treasure and confirmed as part of a scattered hoard.