A TREASURE hunter struck gold on a new ITV4 show all about metal detecting.

Although keen detectorist Graeme Rushton did not find actual gold, the Roman coins him and teammate Adrian Harris found from around 260 AD was enough to see him triumph over the other four teams competing.

Being highlighted as academically important, but low in cash value, Mr Rushton still said he was 'over the moon' with their finds which were valued at £50.

'Henry Cole's Great British Treasure Hunt', broadcast on ITV4, was dubbed as 'the Antiques Road Trip meets the Detectorist' by the Radio Times.

Mr Rushton said it was tough with all the cameras.

"I think that we showed the hobby in a really positive light and proved it isn't all about finding gold and silver all the time," he said.

They visited Sudeley Castle, a Grade I listed castle located in the Cotswolds, near to the medieval market town of Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.

This was the first time metal detectorists were allowed in to scour the gardens, which cover 15 acres within a 1,200 acre estate nestled within the Cotswold hills.

Produced by the team behind Shed & Buried and Find It Fix It Flog It, it challenged five teams to find the most valuable and most historically significant artefacts in just 48 hours.

The duo topped the leaderboard for value and were even awarded the accolade of 'fab find' for the clean sweep on the day.

Mr Rushton is no stranger to ancient coins though.

In 2018 he found a rare silver penny depicting King Stephen from the 12th century. It was sold for £10,540 at auction.

The whole concept of the show was to highlight the historical importance of metal detecting in unearthing finds, not just the value of what they dig up.

"It is all about history and unearthing what Sudeley's has hidden," presenter Henry Cole concluded.