A RARE treasure hoard unearthed in the Cotswolds will be unveiled to the public for the first time this week.

The hoard of gold, which was discovered by a metal detector enthusiast in Poulton three years ago, will be shown off to visitors to Cirencester's Corinium Museum from Monday.

The 3,000-year-old gold arrived at the museum last week after a successful fundraising campaign to buy the gold and keep it in the Cotswolds.

Public donations of over £3,000 rolled in during the first three months enabling the museum to secure £17,000 worth of grant money from the MLA/V&A Purchase Fund, The Headley Trust and The National Art Fund.

John Paddock, Cotswold District Council's Curator of Museums, said: "We are thrilled that public support for the appeal has enabled us to buy the only known collection of Bronze Age gold-work from the Cotswolds.

"Local donations were the key to securing the grant funding. We couldn't have done it without the support of residents and visitors to the museum.

"We would like to thank everyone who donated money and hope they will come to see the hoard in its new home."

Analysis of the hoard suggests that it inculdes fragments of jewellery, sheet gold-work and the tip of a bronze spearhead.

It also contains bronze tools which link the find to a goldsmith who worked in the Cotswolds more than 3,000 years ago.