A DUSTY old jug crammed into a box of household junk has turned into a pot of gold for a charity shop.

Staff at the Help the Aged shop, in Barnard Castle, were stunned when manager Vera Henderson recognised it as a piece of valuable Art Deco pottery.

The hand-painted Crocus design jug was created by Clarice Cliff, who rose to fame as the first woman art director at the Newport Pottery, in Staffordshire, in the 1930s.

The delivery proved to be a double bonus for the charity shop, because minutes later staff discovered part of a Victorian dinner service dating from 1895.

Both the dinner service and the jug could sell for up to £200 each.

Mrs Henderson said the items were a bumper find for the shop.

She said: "I wouldn't mind a few more days like that.

"It does happen very rarely, and we get the odd interesting piece, but these two donations are exceptional.

"In fact, I don't imagine the person or people knew the value of either of them because they were just slung in the box with the rest of the stuff."

Potential customers can visit the shop to view the pieces, or telephone inquiries can be made on (01833) 630103.