A metal detectorist from Cumbria has urged responsibility amid a growth in the number of treasure finds in the county. 

Data collected by the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum shows 23 treasure finds in Cumbria were recorded in 2022 – up from eight the year before.

It comes as the number of detectorists across the UK continues to grow, with the Institute of Detectorists raising concerns about the supply of historical artefacts possibly running out.

Justin Bell, from Whitehaven, took up metal detecting in 2012 and has recorded a number of impressive finds. 

News and Star: The hoard of Viking silver discovered by Justin Bell and Daniel BoakesThe hoard of Viking silver discovered by Justin Bell and Daniel Boakes (Image: Supplied)

In 2019, he made the nationally significant find of a hoard of Viking silver in a Whitehaven field, as well as some silver coins from the reign of reigns of Henry VIII to James I, which were declared as treasure earlier this year. 

Both hauls are now on show at the Beacon Museum, something Justin is incredibly proud of. 

He said: The Viking hoard that I found, if I'd put that on eBay, I could have paid off my mortgage. People would have paid a lot of money. The reward I actually got from the government wasn't very much, but I have the satisfaction that it is at the Beacon Museum.

"I can go down there anytime I want and it's there, and I've done it correctly. My children and my grandchildren, can go down there and say 'this is what Grandad found' and to me, that's worth a lot more than paying off my mortgage."

News and Star: Some of the coins which could have dated back to around 500 years agoSome of the coins which could have dated back to around 500 years ago (Image: Supplied)

Increased press coverage of findings, combined with the popular BBC show The Detectorists, has seen a significant rise in the number of detectorists in recent times, but unfortunately, not everyone is playing by the rules. 

Justin said: "It's about making sure that you follow the guidelines. You have to declare things and follow the law. Every piece of land in the UK is owned by somebody."

Detectorists must gain permission before venturing onto any land and must declare any unusual historical finds to the landowner and the National Council for Metal Detecting.