ANTIQUITIES, desirable relics from bygone eras and a collection of Rupert the Bear books from Woolworths were the draw for experts from a national television programme.

Camera crews filming Flog It! – the popular BBC One antiques show – have travelled to the North-East to film part of the show’s 17th series in County Durham and Darlington.

Members of the public with unusual objects and interesting items were first invited to have their wares valued by familiar faces from the programme at Ushaw College, near Durham, last month.

From the valuation day, several intriguing articles have gone under the hammer for the first Antiques and Collectibles Sale of the year held this week in Darlington’s Thomas Watson’s auction house.

Flog It! presenter, Paul Martin, was joined by a team of antiques experts, Catherine Southon, David Fletcher and James Lewis for the auction.

Among the lots due to appear as part of the programme were a collection of Rupert the Bear books and a figurine bought for 15p in 1971 by Audrey and Stewart Schofield.

The couple, from Langley Park, near Durham, purchased the set for their four-year-old daughter, but a recent clear out uncovered the collection that was of little interest to their great-grandchild.

Mrs Schofield said: “It is the first time we have ever sold anything at auction and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“Flog It! is one of our favourite television programmes so it was really exciting to have been involved with the show and to meet the TV experts.”

The items were valued at £10 to £20, but were knocked down for £35 with the Schofield’s donating the cash to the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

The highest selling lot of the day was a set of 50 sterling silver mint edition ingots by John Pinches to commemorate 1,000 years of the British monarchy.

After being valued at £900 to £1,000, they were sold via the interview to a buyer in Australia for £1,100.

The most bizarre find among the ageing treasure was a poster in an oak frame displaying the average weight of human organs which sold for £200 – more than double its estimated value.

Albert and Mary Day, from Harrogate, sold three items at auction, including a William Moorcroft vase produced circa 1904 to 1913, which was valued beteween £250 to £300, eventually selling at £400.

Mrs Day said: “The vase reached an excellent price and we will use the money to invest in more items of Moorcroft pottery, which we really like.”

  • The Flog It! episode is due to air in the next 18 months.