A man has found a gold chain that he lost four years ago while drunk after he fixed his broken washing machine himself.

The incident took place in the city of Xinxiang, which is located in Henan province, in central China on Saturday 4th December.

The man, who has only been named as Mr Wang in local media reports, said that he was repairing his broken washing machine himself when he found the gold chain which he had lost, which reportedly weighs 41.23 grammes (1.45 oz).

Mr Wang said that although the gold chain, which he had lost four years ago, was covered in dirt, it was nice and shiny after it was properly cleaned at a jeweller’s.

He said that he was delighted to have found his gold chain, because the value of gold has risen since he purchased it and it is therefore now worth more than what he paid for it.

He said that he had not expected to find his gold chain and that he had lost it while he was drunk and playing with his young niece.

It is unclear how it ended up in the washing machine and whether Mr Wang plans to keep the gold chain or sell it.