A HOARD of bronze age weapons buried for 3,000 years beneath a farmer's field at Hollingbourne, near Maidstone, are going on display for the first time.

David Button and Gillian Davies, both members of Lenham Archaeological Society, made the surprise discovery in March.

The treasure trove, which has been dated to 800-900BC, included six lengths of blade, two spearheads, two swords and 12 axes.

It is believed the 35 artefacts may have been buried either as part of an ancient pagan ritual or as temporary storage for a Bronze Age 'smithy'.

Gillian Davies, who used a metal detector to find the buried Bronze Age treasure, described the find as a once in a life time experience.

She said: "These things don't come up every day. Some metal detectorists have been out there hunting for 20 years and haven't found a scrap of Bronze Age material.

"I had only been detecting for 18 months and was responsible for finding the second part of the hoard. It was an unbelievable experience.

"I've not found anything on the same scale since. Mostly buttons horse harnesses and a lot of shotgun ends, which is not quite the same."

The remarkable find has been included in an annual archaeological report being launched tomorrow by Arts Minister Estelle Morris.

The Portable Antiquities Annual Report records all archaeological items found by members of the public over the previous 12 months.

The Hollingbourne hoard, the first of its kind to be reported as treasure, was only available to view by journalists at a press conference in London.

However, it is hoped the artefacts will eventually be placed on public display at Maidstone Museum, if about £2,000 can be raised to buy the items.

Andrew Richardson, Kent County Council's finds liaison officer said: "This report has been running in Kent since 1997. It used to be just a pilot scheme but it has expanded now and this is a much bigger version - hence being re-launched.

"The find in Hollingbourne is being used as a flagship find because it was a community effort to dig it up. They did amazingly well.

"I am in touch with the 10 metal detector groups in the county and when this group came to me I organised the dig and led the dig on the day.

"The find mainly consists of sword blades, spear heads, axes and bits of metal waste. They date from around 1000BC down to 800BC.

"They had been buried in a pit. There are various theories as to why. Some people think the blacksmith buried the metal and meant to come back for it, but didn't. I think that it was more ritualistic.

"There was also a skeleton of a small horse that had been skinned. I think it was more some sort of offering.

"Hopefully when the find has gone through the ropes then it will end up at Maidstone Museum. At the moment it is in London. Eventually I hope that the museum will find the money to acquire it."