For years, metal detectorist Eric Soane has been diligently finding lost coins on playing fields – handing over thousands of pounds to his local schools.

But now one local authority has put a stop to the pensioner’s two-decade long fundraising hobby – over health and safety fears.

Mr Soane, 86, has tried to overturn the ‘silly decision’ but Highland Council says his digging is too dangerous and has refused to let him continue.

Down the years he has unearthed nearly £4,000 in lost coins, dropped from the pockets and bags of pupils, all of which has been handed back to schools.

He said: ‘Surely in times of economic restraint, even these relatively small amounts of cash should not be withheld from the schools. It’s just wasted if it’s left in the ground.’

He began when he saw children at Raigmore Primary looking for a lost item in their playground.

After getting permission from the school, Mr Soane then went on to find a haul of 3,500 coins, which were worth £185.

He told the Press and Journal: ‘After that, I carried on looking for more and it continued from there.’

Mr Soane has detected at 26 schools in and around Inverness, he said, searching playing fields at the weekend or during the holidays.

Usually covering just one school a year, Mr Soane has unearthed a total of 36,877 coins worth £3,654.24.

And, as well as loose change, he has removed rubbish including cans shredded by lawnmowers.

He added: ‘I hope to get this extremely silly decision reversed and get back to an extremely enjoyable hobby.’

But Highland Council said it did not permit detecting on its land, including at schools, unless ‘under controlled management’.

A council spokesman said: ‘The council has a legal duty of care to anyone entering premises under its control.

‘Uncontrolled digging on sites with unknown locations of utility services could put metal detectorists at risk of causing self harm or harm to others and council property and therefore attract unnecessary risk to the council.

‘Digging holes in school grounds and not ensuring that soil is properly compacted again also leaves a potential risk of future trips and falls.

‘School staff are being informed of the council’s position.’

Mr Soane said there have never been any issues with unmarked utilities or the way the ground has been left in all the years he has been detecting.