PEOPLE converged on Bowes museum on Wednesday hoping to discover they had a valuable heirloom among the family possessions or had snapped up a bargain at a car boot sale.

Experts from Newcastle auctioneers Phillips were joined by BBC TV's Antiques Roadshow star, Mr Henry Sandon, to give valuations on all sorts, from Worcester porcelain and silver to paintings, furniture and clocks.

Of course, most went away disappointed that the old pot handed down by grandma was worth a mere fiver, but there were some gems among the objects brought in.

Art expert, Mr Andrew Stewart, said the first thing he saw at the beginning of the event was a drawing by Augustus John on which he put a conservative value of £4,000. He said: "When I saw that, I thought this was going to be a good day. It was a particularly good example."

His eyes lit up again when he saw a picture brought in by Mr Stan Walinets of Mickleton. At first he thought it was an original, but it turned out to be a lithograph. "It is still a beautiful piece of work," he said.

Mr Walinets said he had bought the picture at a market in Plymouth many years ago for £2 10s. Mr Stewart told him it would be worth between £50 and £90 at auction, but with a better frame and properly mounted it should be insured for about £400.

Mr Sandon said he was shown a lot of nice pieces, including a very rare Liverpool porcelain milk jug from about 1770.

He added: "There was some very fine Royal Worcester and some dessert services worth about £1,500. In general there were a lot of nice things and it's been all go all day."

Donations of £1 per item valued raised £209 for the Butterwick hospice.