A British man is facing up to three years in a Turkish prison for trying to take home some ancient coins found on the seabed during a family holiday.

Toby Robyns, 52, an ambulance driver from Southwick, in West Sussex, was arrested as he made his way through security at Bodrum airport on Saturday.

Airport security staff reportedly found 12 coins, which were later classed as historical artefacts, in his luggage.

Mr Robyns told them his children found them while they were swimming.

He is reportedly being detained at Milas prison on suspicion of smuggling historical artefacts.

Mr Robyns' family returned to the UK without him on Saturday and the Foreign Office said it was liaising with the Turkish authorities

Tim Loughton, the family's local Conservative MP, said he was speaking to the Foreign Office "to establish all of the facts".

"This was an innocent, albeit foolish, mistake and we now need to ensure Mr Robyns is treated fairly and properly," he said in a statement.

To read the complete article, see:
Sussex man held in Turkey for smuggling ancient coins (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-41026849)

Robyns, an ambulance driver from West Sussex, has been held on suspicion of failing to declare the find to the local authorities, having reportedly decided to take them home as a souvenir of histrip to Turgutreis, in south-west Turkey.

"They are accusing him of taking Turkish artefacts, which he was obviously unaware of," said James Stoneham, a family friend.

"It was a huge shock for everybody. This was harmless fun on a holiday you've enjoyed - and now he has been put in prison," he told the Sun.

To read the complete article, see:
Briton arrested in Turkey over coins he found while snorkelling(https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/23/briton-arrested-in-turkey-over-coins-he-found-while-snorkelling)