EXPERTS are briefing charity shop workers on how to spot potential glints of gold among dusty donations of second-hand books.

The overseas development charity, Oxfam, has about 60 second-hand book shops and 850 other outlets in towns and cities across the country.

Although most of the items donated at the book stores, and at Oxfam's book banks in supermarket car parks, have limited resale value to the worldwide charity, occasional gems are unearthed.

Such is the potential that Oxfam now employs experts in antiquarian books to advise its shop managers and volunteers about how to recognise more valuable volumes.

Oxfam is staging its third annual national book conference in Durham this week, to outline what staff and volunteers should look for when examining books.

They are highlighting several collectors' pieces which have been handed in at stores round the country.

These include a first edition hard-back version of Biggles' Spitfire Parade, dating from November 1940, which was spotted among books presented over the counter at Oxfam's Chorlton store, in Greater Manchester.

Complete with original dust wrapper, it is worth an estimated £1,500.

A first edition of William Golding's Lord of the Flies, considered an icon book of the 20th Century, has an estimated value of £2,000, while a first edition 1906 illustrated Peter Pan publication is worth about £1,300.

Murray Winters, of Oxfam's business development team, said although such rarities were few and far between, they were worth their weight in gold to the charity.