A haul of Viking coins worth £500,000 uncovered during a police raid could "change British history", according to a leading historian.

Police seized the hoard of coins and a solid silver bar from properties in County Durham and Lancashire during an investigation.

The items, believed to be of major historical significance, include coins from the reign of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, and his lesswell-known contemporary Ceolwulf II of Mercia. King Alfred inflicted a major defeat on the Vikings in AD 878 and experts from the British Museumbelieve the coins belong to an undeclared hoard consistent with the location of the Viking army at that time.

The hoard is important because it fills a gap in the understanding of history at that time.

Until now, accounts have suggested Ceolwulf of Mercia was a puppet of the Vikings and a minor nobleman rather than a proper king.

However, the coins tell a different story and show two rulers standing side by side as allies.

DI Lee Gosling, senior investigating officer for Operation Fantail at Durham Constabulary, said: "We are in the very early stages of what is goingto be a very long and complex investigation.

"We believe the material recovered comes from a hoard of immense historical significance relating to the Vikings and we are delighted to have beenable to hand it over to the British Museum.

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