Metal detector enthusiasts are sharing their interest and expertise in buried artefacts with archaeologists.

While metal detector enthusiasts were once viewed as a renegade, uncontrolled group by the archaeological community, they are now working together to their benefit.

The new spirit of co-operation has developed since the Heritage Lottery Fund's portable antiquities scheme was established in 1997 to encourage people to report the discovery of archaeological objects.

Finds liaison officers (FLOs) have been appointed in 40 areas of England and Wales to co-ordinate the scheme, establishing links with metal-detecting clubs and local archaeological societies, and recording discovered artefacts.

Philippa Walton, of the North-East Museum of Antiquities, at Newcastle University, is the region's FLO.

Since taking up the post in August last year, she has regularly given lectures at, and been a frequent visitor to, metal detector clubs, recording more than 700 finds across the region.

They are among the 200,000 unearthed archaeological objects recorded nationally in the seven years since the scheme's introduction.

Ms Walton said: "In the past, metal detectorists were often criticised for removing archaeologically-important objects without having properly recorded the finds.

"It is vital that we work together, because their finds can have an extremely important part to play in helping us to further our knowledge of the region's past."

A number of recent finds by members of Durham's Dunelm Metal Detecting Club gives an example of the type of artefacts being unearthed and recorded.

They have gone on show at the Old Fulling Museum of Archaeology, in Durham.

"This display is a demonstration of the increasing co-operation between archaeologists and metal detectorists," said Ms Walton.

The range of exhibits includes some she classes as genuine archaeological finds, including prehistoric flint tools, a Bronze Age axehead, Roman brooches and a medieval lead ampulla, a souvenir filled with holy water brought by a pilgrim to a religious site.

It also features more recently buried finds, including early 20th Century beer bottles and a lead toy car.

They can be viewed at the museum, which opens daily from 11am to 4pm, between April and October.

Admission is £1 for adults and 50p for concessions, or £2.50 for a family ticket.