A 14th Century ring which had been discovered by a metal-detectorist in Dorset has sold at auction for £38,000.

The ring is believed to have been the wedding ring given to Sir Thomas Brook to his wife Lady Joan Brook for their marriage in 1388.

It was sold at Mayfair Auctioneeers Noonans on Tuesday, November 29.

It was bought via a commission bid but saw interest online and over the phone aswell.

The ring was discovered by David Board, 69, who found the item near Thorncombe in Dorset.

He was searching using a state-of-the-art metal detector, on a farm owned by a former customer for whom he used to deliver milk to in his previous profession.

David and the farmer watched the auction from their local pub in Dorset.

He said: " I am so pleased that the ring sold, as I was worrying that it wouldn't.

"Despite having media interest from all over the world, we hope that it will remain in this country.

After being taken to the British Museum, it was confirmed that the ring was Medieval in date and a very rare example.

It is expected the money will be shared between David and the landowner.

David plans to use his share of the money to help his partner's daughter arrange a mortgage.

Nigel Mills, Consultant at Noonans said: "This was a great result for this beautiful ring, which had a wonderful aura about it, which made you not want to give it back when you held it."

Former milkman David was a keen metal-detector back in the 1970s.

Having scoured local beaches and finding very little he gave up his hobby.

In 2019, a family friend convinced David to try his luck again and keep searching.

After two days of searching a pasture feild and finding just a few old copper pennies, David got a signal near a footpath.

At a depth of 5 inches he found the ring, believing it to be a sweet wrapper at first.

That discovery turned out to be the Lady Joan Brook ring and worth a small fortune.