New figures have shown a rise of treasure discoveries in Worcestershire last year.

In a large growth from seven in 2021, 16 archaeological gems were dug up in 2022 according to data from the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum.

That is in comparison to seven the year before.

This increase corresponds with the growing population of detectorists across the UK, a trend that the Institute of Detectorists finds worrying as the supply of historical treasures might be dwindling.

Detectorists, using metal detectors to explore open areas, occasionally happened upon historic coins, pottery and other items of historical significance.

The number of such finds reached a record 1,378 in 2022, marking the ninth consecutive year that the 1,000 mark had been exceeded.

Despite the rise in the county, the South East of England retained its title as the country’s hotspot for buried treasures, boasting an impressive 349 discoveries last year, making up 25 per cent of all treasure finds.

The West Midlands, including Worcestershire, reported 140 finds in 2022.

Keith Westcott, founder of the Institute of Detectorists, said: "The number of active detectorists has been steeply rising since the Covid lockdown."

He went on to reveal that the 2021 Portable Antiquities Annual Report predicted around 40,000 active metal-detectorists in the UK.

Mr Westcott said: "Current estimates for 2023, raise this figure to 50,000."

While it's a thrill for hobbyists and museums alike, only a quarter of found objects and coins were officially acquired by or donated to museums – a total of 270 contributions, while only 3,000 metal detectorists are recording with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which is managed by the British Museum.

Of 1,072 recorded finds in 2021, an overwhelming 96 per cent were discovered by metal detecting, with only 1 per cent being chance finds or emerging through mudlarking, a form of amateur archaeology.

However, a survey by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2022-23 suggested that metal detecting still remains a niche interest, with only 1 per cent of adults in England reported to have participated in the activity in the last year.