When Claire Morgan lost her valuable charm bracelet through the wooden slats on Clacton Pier, she thought it was gone forever.

But she had failed to take into account the skills of Gary Otley and his metal detector.

Despite the fact the bracelet fell through at a point where the tide did not go out, Gary from Meadow Way, Jaywick, spent the best part of three hours searching the sea.

Up to his waist in water, he finally located the bracelet which Claire had been given as a present six years previously.

"It was one of her relatives who asked me if I could have a look for it as they were leaving the pier," he said.

"As it was an area by the cafe which is always covered with water I was not sure how I would get on but I said I would give it a go.

"I wasn't even sure that the equipment would work under the water but it turned up trumps."

Claire's sister Sharna and her boyfriend returned the same day and Gary told her he had found the bracelet and was offered £150 - but he turned it down.

"It wasn't as if I couldn't have done with the money, because I could," he said.

"But I was just glad to have been able to help her get the bracelet back. I think it was worth quite a bit and even more in sentimental terms."

Gary goes down to the West Beach about twice a week and has found a number of items - but is usually looking for money which has fallen through the slats on the Pier.

Claire, 22, who lives in Dagenham, said she was relieved Gary was there that day and to be reunited with the bracelet she got when she was 16.

"It was a present and had a lot of charms which I had collected over the years," she said.

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