A MEDIAEVAL brooch found in a Worcestershire field could be kept for the county after it was declared to be treasure.

The ruling was made by Worcestershire coroner Victor Round yesterday, and now it will be offered to the British Museum after being priced by a valuation committee.

But curators at the County Museum are hoping to acquire the tiny twisted silver brooch, dated between the late 13th Century and early 14th Century.

David Kendrick, collections officer at the County Museum, doubts the British Museum will want the item, discovered by metal detection enthusiast David Cole in Martley last March, and he hopes to snap it up instead.

"If we can raise the money it's certainly our intention to acquire the piece," said Mr Kendrick, whose museum, based at Hartlebury Castle, will have to generate the cash through grants.

"It's a small decorative item which wasn't of a very high status. Perhaps it belonged to a merchant's or farmer's wife.

"But it's a very important item culturally and historically because it's one of three found around the county recently. I'd love to get hold of all of them but we'll see what the valuation committee says."

When an ancient article made of gold or silver is discovered, and its owners cannot be traced, an inquest is held to determine whether or not it is "treasure" and belongs to the Crown.

It is priced by a valuation committee, and when it is bought by a museum or collector, the finder receives compensation.

Mr Kendrick confirmed he aims to obtain 15 Roman coins which were also declared as treasure by Mr Round yesterday.

The coins - which were minted across Europe and bear inscriptions in honour of Roman gods - were found in Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, last July.

They are part of a hoard of 400 coins found in the same field in 1999 by Phil Harriman.

His haul in 1999 was worth around £2,000.

The two other brooches - found in Longdon, near Upton-upon-Severn, and Eldersfield, just south of the M50 - will be subject to treasure inquests later this year.