Saxon treasure find souring friendship

       A stunning hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure went on show yesterday but the golden trove's lustre was tarnished by a reported row between the two men who will share the fortune it sells for.
       The discovery of the biggest ever such haul, at least 1,350 items, including 5kg of gold, found in a field in central England by a metal detector hobbyist in July was announced on Thursday. And yesterday it was unveiled to the public at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where visitors will be able to view a selection of items until Oct 13.
       But the show was marred by a reported row between the 55-year-old unemployed man who stumbled upon it, and the farmer in whose field it was found.
       Farmer Fred Johnson said the discovery had soured his relationship with Terry Herbert, who has been metal detecting for the last 18 years, and was using his trusty 14-year-old detector when he made the life-changing find.
       "I'm not happy with Terry," he was quoted as saying by The Times newspaper."I think it is more about the money for him, and I'm going to have to confront him about that.
       "Me and Terry agreed to keep it all low-key and I thought that would be the case. It is not about the money for me.It's an incredible find for the country and that's what is more important," he added.
       The value of the haul has yet to be decided, but one expert, Roger Bland of the British Museum in London, said he expected it to fetch "a seven-figure sum",- which will be shared equally by Mr Herbert and Mr Johnson.
       The hoard is believed to date from the seventh century AD, and may have belonged to Saxon royalty. The treasure includes sword pommel caps and hilt plates, many inlaid with precious stones.
       Mr Herbert has so far been publicity shy, and did not respond to the farmer's remarks. But on Thursday he described the discovery as "more fun than winning the lottery".
       "Imagine you're at home and somebody keeps putting money through your letterbox, that was what it was like. I was going to bed and in my sleep I was seeing gold items," he said.
       A fellow member of Bloxwich Research and Metal Detecting Club, voiced surprise Mr Herbert had made the find.
       "If you had told me someone had made such an amazing discovery I would never have thought it was Terry," Colin Pearson,64, was quoted as saying.
       "If he turns up for a dig at 12 o'clock he'll normally spend an hour with his metal detector out and the remaining four hours talking," he added.