A TIME capsule containing a 19th century edition of the Free Press has been found under a gravestone almost 115 years to the day after it was buried.

Special-effects technician Jim Machin, originally from Chalfont St Peter, could not believe his eyes when he dug up a glass bottle-shaped time capsule as he was renovating the Old Chapel on Booker Common.

Mr Machin and his partner Elaine recently bought the church with the intention of doing it up and making it their new home.

"I was just lifting up an old slab and I saw this very old, dusty bottle buried in the soil," said Mr Machin

The capsule is sealed with wax but as it is made of glass. Mr Machin has been able to identify some of the century-old memorabilia.

An edition of the Bucks Free Press for April 27, 1886 has been identified and what looks to be a handwritten Methodist paper and other written items.

"It is an incredible find and we had to think very carefully about what we were going to do about it

"We are happy now that we made the decision not to open it ourselves so that we could share it with the rest of the community around the anniversary."

Mr Machin plans to keep the capsule in the old chapel but is not yet sure about what he will do after it is opened.

"We will be putting a lot of thought into what we will do with it," he said.