Watching the real life detectorists

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For anybody who encountered one in childhood, the strange whistles and beeps of a metal detector conjured up a special kind of magic.

Each noise from the contraption would generate a wave of excitement that would subside only when one realised that the unearthing of a rusty horseshoe or drinks can would not lead to a call to be the next Indiana Jones.

Most children became disenchanted when repeated sweeps of the back garden failed to unearth the next Sutton Hoo.

But there are tens of thousands in the UK whose initial excitement has never worn off.

These metal "detectorists" spend their weekends braving driving wind and rain, and have been responsible for a series of spectacular finds in recent years.

Read more : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4966424.stm