Australian treasure under the Welsh sea

In an ambitious new series on ITV Cymru Wales, we'll be hunting for the treasure of a shipwreck which has remained hidden for over 150 years.

In the new three part series Welsh Wreck of Gold, which starts on Wednesday, 24 July, we'll be taken to the depths of the sea in search of gold.

In the early hours on 26 October, 1859, on the final part of her journey from Melbourne, Australia to Britain, The Royal Charter sank on rocks off the Anglesey coast. Carrying some 520 passengers and crew, the ship was smashed to pieces by the force of one of the biggest storms ever to hit Britain. Only a handful lived to tell the tale, and it's said that 497 people died in the terrible tragedy which also claimed a haul of Australian gold worth £80 million - much of which is still hidden under the sea.

Gwenllian Jones Palmer, will take us on a journey in this new series. She'll investigate the history of the ship, her passengers, the storm and the gold. We'll also see amazing images of the wreck, almost completely hidden in the seabed.

The treasure hunt is lead by Vince Thirkettle, an experienced and world renowned gold panner who has hunted for gold on all continents. But there is one place which keeps attracting him back, time and time again - the shipwreck of The Royal Charter.

As well as joining Vince in the water, Gwenllian talks to experts to find out more about the history. Who were the rich passengers of The Royal Charter? Why was there so much gold on board? And what caused her to sink? And after diving to the cold depths, will Gwenllian surface with Australian treasure in her hands?