A weekly newspaper in the Midlands has joined a campaign to bring home the so-called “Mercian Gold.”

The treasure, recently dug up by an amateur metal detectorist, is likely to have belonged to Saxon royalty in the ancient kingdom of Mercia, whose seat was Tamworth Castle.

Now the Tamworth Herald has joined forces with civic leaders to have the gold put on permanent display there.

Its ‘Battle for the Mercian Gold’ campaign aims to highlight the town’s likely links with the treasure and build the case for its return.

Group editor Gary Phelps said: “We believe the return of this gold to Tamworth could bring about a renaissance that would reinvigorate the town centre, bringing tourists and trade.

“It would also help Tamworthians rediscover their lineage as inhabitants of the once-great capital city of Mercia, home of kings such as Pender and the legendary Offa.

“Over the coming weeks the Herald will be working with Tamworth Borough Council to help bring some of this incredible link to our past back to the town.”

The antiquities have recently been on display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in a temporary exhibition which closed last week.