Metal detectorist finds 100-year-old car tax disc

Chris Langston found the disc in undergrowth near Oswestry

A metal detectorist has found a car's tax disc dating back almost a century in Shropshire.

Chris Langston discovered the disc in its metal container while he was searching near Oswestry.

The disc, which was issued in the town, expired in December 1924, and would have been issued up to a year earlier.

Mr Langston said his research since he made the discovery suggested it belonged to a Model T Ford.

"I've gone down a complete rabbit hole of tax discs over the past 24 hours," he said.

"I could see a letter F in the vehicle description box. I've checked, and the only F vehicles in 1923 were Model T Fords.

"I could just about make out the horsepower which was 20."

Relatively new concept

Discs of the era were charged at £1 per horsepower according to an RAC calculation, so the disc was likely to have cost about £20 at the time.

The tax disc system started in 1921 and the government stopped issuing them in 2014.

Mr Langston said the disc would be displayed in the Oswestry Unearthed collection at Oswestry's town museum.