ILLEGAL METAL DETECTORISTS CAUSING DAMAGE ALONG HADRIAN'S WALL

Archaeologists have raised the alarm over damage caused by “nighthawks” illegally searching for treasure along Hadrian’s Wall. More than 50 holes have been found at the Brunton Turret section of the 1,900-year-old world heritage site. Nighthawks, the term for illegal metal detectorists, have targeted the turret and well-preserved section of wall, which was built by the Roman army’s 20th legion.

The ruins just south of the border are surrounded by further buried archaeological remains, which are very vulnerable to damage from nighthawks, according to Historic England. In the past three years there have been other incidents along the wall, at Corbridge, Housesteads and Steel Rigg. All the sites are scheduled monuments where using a metal detector without authorisation is a criminal offence.