Nighthawking: Illegal detectorists sought after castle damage

Police believe about six people went to the protected castle with a metal detector to remove historical items

Illegal metal detectorists have potentially removed artefacts from an English Heritage site in Totnes, police have said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said about 10 patches of grass were dug up at Berry Pomeroy Castle in a "nighthawking" incident on Sunday.

Officers believe about six people went to the protected castle with a metal detector to remove historical items.

"Nighthawks" refer to people who detect illegally under the cover of darkness.

'Nationally important site'

Win Scutt, a senior properties curator from English Heritage, said damage from the "unskilled digging of holes on a nationally important site like this is irreversible".

"Staff arriving on Sunday morning found a large number of holes dug into the site, along with scattered rubbish," he said.

"We shall never know how much knowledge has been lost about the history of Berry Pomeroy Castle due to this disturbance of the buried archaeology."

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to get in touch

Mark Harrison, head of Heritage Crime for Historic England, said: "The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 affords detailed protection for nationally important sites such as Berry Pomeroy Castle and persons found guilty of offences under this act can receive a substantial fine, a term of imprisonment or both."

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to get in touch.