TWELVE years ago, medals bestowed on a war hero and distinguished police commander were stolen from his family’s Oxfordshire cottage.

But this weekend they were returned to their rightful home after being discovered in a farmer’s field just 20 yards from the house they were taken from thanks to the sharp eyed members of the Oxford Blues Metal Detecting Club. They had been awarded to Ralph Sheldon, a World War I veteran and high-ranking officer in the Metropolitan Police, who died in 1952.

A hearty congratulations to Paul Brown who has won the Finder of the Year trophy.

Paul Brown was the happy recipient of the Finder Of The Year trophy, which is awarded for the finder who accumulates the most points for finds submitted throughout the year.

He holds the trophy for the whole year. Well done Paul.

A rare coin made in Oxford in or around 1066 – the year of the Battle of Hastings – is set to fetch up to £1,500 at an auction next month.

The 1,000 year-old silver penny was made in Oxford by a so-called moneyer named Aelfwig during the 10-month reign (January 5,1066, to October 14 1066) of King Harold II.

Harold was killed after being shot in the eye with an arrow at the Battle of Hastings, which was won by William The Conqueror on October 14,1066, and which is recorded on the Bayeux Tapestry.

IF James Hyatt was old enough to understand the concept, his family would tell him he is blessed with beginner’s luck. The three-year-old was minutes into his first ever attempt at metal detecting when he found a gold locket potentially worth £2.5million.

He had just been passed the device at a field in Hockley, Essex, when it began to buzz.