A TV antiques expert helped to raise awareness of dementia during a special antiques valuation session.

As part of Dementia Awareness Week, David Harper teamed up with the Alzheimer’s Society for the event at The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, today (May 21), in a bid to get people talking about the condition.

The session, run by Mr Harper, of Bargain Hunt and the Antiques Roadshow fame, was followed by a Dementia Friends awareness event.

He said: “There are things that can be done to make sure that people with dementia can live well within their communities.

“Events like this will help.

“They might trigger those memories and stories from the past and help get things fired up again.

“I’ve seen it happen with my own eyes when people reminisce; telling stories they haven’t told for donkeys years.

“It is fascinating.”

Event organiser Mark Wilkes, the Alzheimer’s Society services manager for County Durham, said: “It is great that David agreed to come on board with us to raise dementia awareness in Teesdale.”