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Divers in fall-out over river treasure
A bitter row has broken out among a team of divers after hidden treasure was uncovered in the River Wear.
Roy Ledger and Mark Weatherburn claim fellow divers Gary and Trevor Bankhead broke a pact about splitting profits from the find.
The Bankhead brothers discovered artefacts, near Prebends Bridge in Durham City, belonging to the former Bishop of Durham and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey, who died in 1988.
But Mr Ledger and Mr Weatherburn say the brothers have now broken a verbal agreement that profits from any pieces would be split four ways after half was given to the cathedral.
They also say the Bankheads broke a promise the area would only be searched as a foursome by diving without them, as well as going public about the discoveries.
But Gary Bankhead today hit back, saying the deal over any profit was dissolved when all four signed an initial agreement with the cathedral about searching the waters. Only the Bankheads went on to sign a second contract with the cathedral.
Mr Bankhead also believes the pieces, which may have been dumped after a burglary of Dr Ramsey's home, may only be worth 1,200 and not 10,000 as first suggested.
Both sets of men had stopped diving together as a group, with Mr Ledger and Mr Weatherburn moving on to Elvet and Framwellgate Bridges.
Mr Ledger, 48, a father-of-two from Washington, said: "I wish them well, but I think what they've done is extremely naughty and I'm very cross at both of them. It's not about the money now. It's the principle."
Mr Weatherburn, a 36-year-old engineer from Gateshead, added: "They've lost our respect and friendship and as far as I'm concerned, that's it."
Gary Bankhead said the others had only been on six of the 200-plus dives at Prebends Bridge.
He added: "There was an informal agreement, that was sort of a joke that it would be split five ways. However, as soon as a contract was made it became clear it would never be the case. I'm realistic in that I can't see us getting a lot of money from these finds."
He said he and his brother, who both live in Durham City, were monitoring discussions between the cathedral and the Community of Resurrection in Mirfield, North Yorkshire, which could have a claim on the artefacts under Dr Ramsey's will.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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