Metal detectorist, 54, strikes gold after digging up 3,000-year-old Bronze Age cloak fastener in 'one-in-a-billion' discovery

An amateur metal detectorist has stuck gold after he discovered a 'one-in-a-billion' Bronze Age artefact. Jonathan Needham, 54, found the 3,000-year-old cloak fastener on a patch of land in Ellastone, Staffordshire It is likely to be acquired by a museum and has left the retired tree surgeon delighted Mr Needham is pictured with the gold cloak fastener The artefact has since been moved to the British Museum in London and the object is expected to sell for a significant sum at auction Mr Needham, who is from Derby, was out with a friend on May 6 last year - the day of King Charles's Coronation - when he heard a faint beep Mr Needham is pictured having the artefact examined by the British Museum 'I didn't sleep a wink that night. Mr Needham, who is from Derby, was out with a friend on May 6 last year - the day of King Charles's Coronation - when he heard a faint beep. He pulled the treasure out and initially thought it was a faded aluminium drawer handle Mr Needham wanted to be a treasure hunter decades ago after watching TV programmes about what others have dug up Mr Needham is pictured having the artefact examined by the British Museum He said: 'It's so ironic that I found a King's gold on the day Charles III was being crowned' When Mr Needham realised the value of his find, he sent it to Derby Museum He posted the find on a group on Facebook and other enthusiasts told him it was valuable 'The report can take up to five years but this was done in a few months because it's such an important find.' 'No one expects a find like this but I felt in my bones that I was going to find gold - I'd had a few good finds over the previous year,' Mr Needham said.