ANTIQUE shop owners around west Suffolk are preparing for an upturn in business following appearances on BBC television this week.

A total of eight shops from the region will feature in two episodes of the popular BBC2 show Antiques Road Trip due to air at 5:15 on Wednesday and Thursday.

The programme features antique experts Charles Hanson and Charlie Ross searching for treasures in local shops before competing to make the most money from their items at auction.

The pair filmed in west Suffolk in June and visited antique shops in Sudbury, Long Melford, Bury St Edmunds, Lavenham and Clare.

“We had a briliant time, they were so funny,” said Jeni White, owner of Timbers antique shop in Lavenham, who sold two lion statuettes, a roman keyring and a pair of silver glove-stretchers to the presenters for �180.

She added;“They invited us down to the auction at Greenwich as well and even reserved front row seats for us. I’m sure the show will be good publicity for us. People will see Lavenham on the televison and it is bound to prompt some to take a day trip here and pop into the shop.

“The antiques business is very strong at the moment. We’ve had a brilliant year, up 50% on last year. People seem to want to invest in antique silver and jewellery at the moment.”

Also due to appear on the small screen this week is Richard Martin, owner of Risby Barn Antiques, in Risby near Bury St Edmunds, who sold a silver cigar cutter to the duo for �20.

“We gave them a good deal on it but hope the programme proves to be good advertising for our business,” he said.