THREE groundworkers made a historic discovery in Farnworth today after unearthing a lead box containing old coins and newspapers.

Seamus Mcloughlin, Lawrence Mcloughlin and John Playforth, three of the six workmen on the site in Presto Street, Farnworth, are now a sixpence richer.

With their hard-hats and diggers, the three Pentech Construction workers were laying the foundations for a new 23-apartment development when Mr Mcloughlin, 30, from Chorley, hit a hard spot.

He said: "I was digging a pipe when we hit a solid foundation stone. I lifted it onto the bank to find it was a hand carved sandstone with a perfectly cut out square to fit the lead box.

"The lead had merged together over the years so we had to force the box open by peeling the lid back.

"Inside we discovered four coins and some old newspaper."

The artefact had unfortunately been punctured over time so water had leaked inside the box damaging the three newspapers - a copy of The Bolton Examiner, printed on July 7 1860, The Watchman and Wesleyan Advertiser, printed on July 4 1860, and The Examiner and Times.

However, the four coins, which were carefully wrapped in the newspaper, have "polished up" well.

The coins, a silver sixpence coin, silver threepenny, an old penny and a twopenny piece, all from the 1850s, are now burning a hole in the diggers pocket.

Mr Mcloughlin said: "The newspapers were wet through so we immediately put them out to dry and I polished up the coins.

"It's a pretty cool discovery. We'll now have to wait and see what its worth."

His co-worker, Mr Playforth, 53, of Leyland, said: "We were digging just over 1.5 metres before we hit the lead box. The box was set in sandstone so my colleague smashed the stone and released the box.

"It was a case of being nosey and now there is every possibility the items in the box are of some value."

Mr Mcloughlin added: "Whoever made this stone made it to fit the lead box knowing someone, one day, would find it."

The workman now plan to keep hold of the findings until they are advised otherwise.

The plot of land was once an old garage workshop.