The widening of Priory Crescent in Southend could mean more hidden gems are uncovered in the future, the Museum of London has revealed.

At a meeting this week, the museum announced it would help fund another dig if the controversial road scheme finally gets the green light.

However, protesters are doing everything in their power to stop the site of the Saxon King's grave being concreted over by the road.

Some have set up a protest camp, called Camp Bling, on the site and on Tuesday evening, a crowd stormed a reception to celebrate Southend Council winning a gong in the British Archaeology Awards.

Speaking at this reception, the museum's archaeology service managing director Taryn Nixon said it was a shame people did not realise how significant the find could be for Southend.

She said: "One of the sad things about this extraordinary discovery is people do not recognise what an important thing it is for Southend and how important it could be for the regeneration of Southend.

"The discovery we made was incredibly important. It was a below-ground chamber in which a body would have been laid out surrounded by his possessions or the things that the burial party felt he should be buried with.

"There were lots of drinking vessels and copper pots and pans and some personal items like a couple of crucifixes.

"It was really incredibly exciting and it was probably one of the most exciting archeological discoveries in the past century."

Relics from a Saxon Cemetery were first uncovered more than 80 years ago in 1923 by road workers while laying the foundations for Priory Crescent.

But no one believed there could be a man of such significance buried beneath the ground.

However, by the time Southend Council started planning the most recent changes to Priory Crescent, the law had changed and it had to employ excavators to assess the archeological implications.

To everyone's surprise, these investigations uncovered the undisturbed 7th Century burial chamber, a wood lined room, in 2003.

It contained a coffin containing the body of what is now thought to be King Saeberht, the first Christian King of Essex.

On his eyes were a pair of fine gold crosses and on his middle a gold buckle, items which indicated high status, and his coffin was surrounded by possessions including fine bowls, an iron sword, cauldrons, stools, gold crucifixes and a lyre.

The significance of the discovery meant the excavation had to be completed under a veil of secrecy, and was not revealed until February 2003.

The finds which were lifted and removed are in storage at the moment so the museum can continue inquires and research to learn more about them.

But the extensive excavation of the area has led experts to believe there may be more things near the site, and funding for the road would have to include a budget for archaeologists to follow up their hunch.

Meanwhile, the hunt is on for a permanent home in the town for the treasures.

Ken Crowe, keeper of Human History at Southend Museum, said: "The options are for a new building to not only house the King's treasure, but the major bulk of the museum's catalogue and the Saxon tomb will feature as a centre piece.

"There is a growing body of evidence for Saxon settlements in South Essex. Before the discovery of a Saxon graveyard in the 1920s we knew nothing about this, but in the last decade we have actually found a growing number of settlements.

"Obviously the burial of this very important Saxon indicates that somewhere in the vicinity was a high standard of settlement."

Ann Holland, the council's executive councillor for culture, said: "We are looking forward to getting the finds back because we believe that Southend's history should be in Southend.

"At the moment we are working on a feasibility study into where they can be placed. There are views they could be in the cliffs or somewhere else in the town."