'There's no better feeling than finding a lost ring'

A metal detectorist who has made a name for himself by finding people's lost property says there is "no better feeling" than finding people's treasured items.

Darren Wiles, from Bournemouth, started detecting in 2009 before setting up a free recovery service.

He said despite initially thinking no one would ever use the service, he has become busier and busier over the years, and can often be found on the beaches and streets of Dorset searching for lost items.

Wiles recently found his 500th item - an engagement ring - on top of a bush, which he says was a first for him.

"Of all the ones that I've done, it was very unusual," he said.

Abi Colborne was the owner of the 500th item, which she said she took off and threw during "a bit of an argument".

Wiles said: "We thought it had cleared the bush and hit her partner's leg on the ground so I searched all around, but I thought 'do you know what, I'm gonna give it one last go', and I kind of used my detector to go on the top and there was a signal there."

Standing on a wheelie bin, Wiles used a handheld device to scan the top of the bush where the signal had been found.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw it in there, so I had to carefully try and get it out, otherwise it would have fallen into the bottom of the bush," he added.

Colborne said: "My throwing skills are not that great.

"I'm extremely happy and I won't be throwing it again... I'm absolutely chuffed to bits."

Wiles does not charge for his service, however people can make a donation if they wish, which he donates to Meredith's Mission, a local children's cancer charity.

"People have donated over £1,100 for that so far, which is great," he said.

He said he has found himself in "all kind of weird and wonderful places".

"I love doing the bit that I do now, not the history side of it," he said.

"My thing was always coins when I did the history side, but now I find rings and phones and keys.

"There's no better feeling than finding a ring that someone's lost and you've seen how devastated they are, to return it to them, and you see how happy they are.

"It's just such a great feeling, and I can't get enough of that."