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The treasures were lost to history until one morning in June 2015 when - in a field near Leominster, Herefordshire - metal detectorists Powell, from Newport, and Davies, from Pontypridd, began sweeping the land.

Mr Reavill tapped into his network of detectorists to see "if anyone's heard anything solid, and they all come back saying they've heard roughly the same thing: a massive medieval hoard had been found near Leominster".

Remembering her stepson as "an amazing chap", Ms Dyche, who lives near Leominster, said: "He only had to walk into the house and it put a smile on my face."

"We are incredibly saddened to hear that a theft may have taken place in Leominster cemetery," a spokesperson said.

Tasha Morris, whose son Oscar died in August, was left angry after finding his final resting place in Leominster cemetery, Herefordshire, was targeted.