TREASURE seekers in Lancashire are finding record numbers of gems.

And those seeking their fortune, armed with metal detectors, are increasingly heading to the east of the county in search of historical finds.

Only five finds had been reported in the county since the Treasure Act 1996 was brought in -- under the Act, all finds must be reported by law.

Already in 2004, three cases of treasure have been reported in Lancashire.

And under the 1996 Act all finds over 300 years old must be sent to a coroner to determine their precious metal content.

Once an item has been declared treasure it is then sent to the British Museum in London for evaluation. A price is then put on the treasure and museums are given the chance to buy.

The money paid is then passed on to the finder.

A medieval triangular silver brooch was found near Blackburn six months ago. The brooch is still waiting to be declared treasure by a coroner, but it is thought that it dates back to the 15th century.

Six months ago Lancashire Museum bought a silver ring, valued at £600, which had been found eighteen months previously at a farm near Whalley.

The 15th century ring was unearthed when Sandra Smith, of Hunger Hill, Bolton, used a metal detector on land at Riley's Farm, Chapel Lane, Langho.

Stephen Bull, Curator of Military History and Archaeology at the Lancashire Museum in Preston, said: "It was a very exciting find, the ring shows crossed hands shaking on the front of it an this image still occurs on jewellery today, it's very interesting that the image has been carried on."

He added: "We get all sorts of things brought to us, jewellery, coins, bits of twisted metal. Since December we've had 300 items reported, although only three of those were classed as 'treasure'. Every case is interesting but some things we never find out what they are."

If an object is not declared as treasure by the coroner it is returned to the finder.

Part of the reason for the increase has been put down to the appointment of Faye Simpson as the county's Finds Liaison Officer. She was given the post as part of the Portable Antiquities Scheme , a voluntary scheme set up after the government recognised the need to improve the recording of 'portable antiques' which fall outside the scope of the 1996 Treasure Act.

Mr Bull said: "We have supported the scheme since the beginning. It is a great opportunity for members of the public to become involved in historical finds. Often there is a danger of not including the public in these things and the finds officer brings people together.

"It's a very important scheme as it enables both the public and archaeologists to learn more a bout important objects of the past which might otherwise pass unnoticed."