A SILVER Anglo-Saxon sword scabbard decoration has been found by a Southampton metal detector enthusiast.

Jeremy de Montfalcon, of Hulse Road, discovered the valuable item in a field near Itchen Abbas in November last year.

Winchester Museum is looking to buy the item once the British Museum has named a price.

Mr de Montfalcon said he will split the money with the owner of the field.

He added: "It was my intention to look for any metal, but I was very shocked when I realised what I had found.

"Anglo-Saxon pyramidal mounts are very rare. After I discovered it I didn't stay in the field much longer.

"I did not clean the mount. I left that for the experts to do."

A report from the British Museum said the mount dated back to either the sixth or seventh century and the silver content of the item was 94 per cent and it weighed 2.81 gram.

It is not the only time Mr de Montfalcon has made a rare and important find.

In August this year, along with three other people, he found four King Edward VI silver shillings on the Hampshire/Surrey border at Crondall.