Anglo-Saxon gold from Staffordshire Hoard to go on UK-wide tour

A national touring exhibition featuring treasures from the Staffordshire Hoard collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver has been announced.

The exhibition will travel the country and visit Leeds from May, followed by Bristol from October.

It is the first time UK visitors will have the opportunity to view such a large number of items from the collection outside the West Midlands where it was discovered. Some of the objects have never been on show before.

The exhibition focuses on fittings from weapons which make up the majority of the collection. These fittings were stripped from swords and seaxes (single-edged fighting knives) during the first half of the 7th century AD.

Permanent displays of the treasure will still continue in Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent and at other venues in the West Midlands.