A builder has donated a rare and valuable collection of more than 100 ancient artefacts found in Epsom and Ewell to Bourne Hall Museum, including a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age ceremonial spear head.

Matt Brewer, 42, from London Road in Cheam, has been metal detecting for nearly 25 years recovering rare pieces of history from the area including Roman brooches, coins and Saxon medals.

Mr Brewer, who emigrated to Australia on Wednesday, decided to donate his entire collection to the museum as he wanted his collection to remain in the borough.

The star item is the bronze minature ceremonial spear head.

David Brooks, from Bourne Hall Museum, said: "It’s a smaller version of the full sized spear produced as an offering to the gods.

"They would have been thrown into Bourne Hall Lake. This object was incredibly valuable in its day and is very rare."

Mr Brewer found many of the items on sites that were being developed.

He said: "Everything like that would now be crushed under houses. I took the opportunity to speak to the foreman and take my metal detector out.

"They have stopped people doing that now because of health and safety implications so everything is getting lost.

"It’s a great way of finding out about the history of the local area.

"I have found stuff from the Bronze Age, Celtic and Saxon times and stuff from Bourne Hall Lake - some nice Roman broaches and things from Celtic times.

"I have been doing it for about 25 years so I have built up quite a collection. Everything has been indentified and verified by experts.

"I decided, since I am leaving Ewell, I would give them to Bourne Hall to display in their museum."

Mr Brooks said: "There was one Roman coin which is the only one recorded as being found in the country.

"The Saxon medal is very rare and bronze spear heads are very important. It tells us something of what went on in Ewell more than 2,000 years ago.

"It would be nice for him [Mr Brewer] to get some recognition as he could have just sold the lot on eBay."