THE Worcestershire Hoard is on its way back to the county and will soon be going on display.

The largest haul of treasure ever found in the county, a stash of almost 4,000 Roman coins discovered by metal detecting enthusiasts on Bredon Hill in June, 2011, will be put on show at the County Museum at Hartlebury from Saturday, March 9.

It will be displayed in its unconserved state while fund-raising continues to enable Museums Worcestershire to conserve the coins and display them around the county.

John Campion, chairman of the joint museums committee said: “We are very pleased to be able to show the Worcestershire Hoard at Hartlebury while fund-raising continues to enable us to conserve the Hoard for future generations. We are very grateful to the communities of Worcestershire who have raised the money needed to acquire the hoard and we will welcome it back with open arms.

“We hope Worcestershire residents will take the opportunity to come and see the hoard at Hartlebury. Even though it’s still covered in mud, it is amazing to think this was buried in Worcestershire soil for 1,800 years.”

Museums Worcestershire raised the sum to acquire the hoard through donations from residents, together with £4,500 from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, £2,250 from the Headley Trust Archaeological Acquisition Fund and more than £1,000 from the Worcestershire Archaeological Society.

A new campaign to conserve and display the coins will be launched in April.

Conservation of the hoard will take place at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, Foregate Street, later in the year.

The County Museum is open from Tuesday to Friday between 10am and 5pm as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. For more information, go to museumswor cestershire.org.uk.