An early painting by artist David Hockney that featured a Suffolk landscape was the most valuable item in a recent episode of Antiques Roadshow.

The BBC programme aired at 8pm on March 12 and the final antique to be considered by the experts was a painting which the owner claimed to be an early piece David Hockney work - one of Britain's leading modern painters.

Despite the show being held at Belmont House in Kent, the landscape of the painting was said to depict a Suffolk village.

The owner said: "My grandfather saw two young artists on the platform when he was signalman in the tiny station Trimley St Mary between Felixstowe and Ipswich.

East Anglian Daily Times: The David Hockney painting depicting Trimley St MaryThe David Hockney painting depicting Trimley St Mary (Image: BBC/Antiques Roadshow)

"He noticed their equipment so he invited them into the signal box and gave them a cup of tea.

"He eventually invited them home for Sunday lunch because they were living in straitened circumstances.

"So they came to Sunday lunch and he said 'bring a painting' and Wallace bought a painting from each of them.

"A year later, he brandished a piece of paper showing that one of these guys had won the gold medal at the Royal College of Art.

East Anglian Daily Times: King Charles III talks with Mr David Hockney during a luncheon for Members of the Order of Merit at Buckingham Palace, London. Picture date: Thursday November 24, 2022.King Charles III talks with Mr David Hockney during a luncheon for Members of the Order of Merit at Buckingham Palace, London. Picture date: Thursday November 24, 2022. (Image: PA)

"So that's my case, that it's a Hockney."

Expert Rupert Maas then explained why the artist had ended up in this part of Suffolk.

He said: "It turns out they were there because they admired John Constable so much and they thought they were in Constable Country, which, of course, Felixstowe is not".

At the end of the segment, the painting was valued between £20,000 and £30,000.

This comes after a Suffolk business recently featured on Salvage Hunters.

The full episode of Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.