More than 900 people converged on north Essex yesterday hoping to take part in a hit antiques TV show.

They carried a diverse mix of items from paintings, jewellery and silver to toys, books and autographs in order to meet the team from the BBC’s Flog It! programme, which took over Layer Marney Tower, near Colchester, for the day.

The idea of the event was for members of the public to bring along antiques and collectables for valuation. The best items will be put forward for a televised auction to hopefully fetch the owners a tidy sum.

According to Mark Stacey, partner at Stacey’s Auctioneers and Valuers in Rayleigh, who will oversee the auction next month, the day was one of the busiest Flog It! had seen in years.

He said: “People have come from all over Essex and east London and we’ve had a real range of items today. One that caught my eye was a Clarice Cliff Art Deco tea set that could fetch between £800 and £1,200.

“There was also an interesting abstract 1960s collage in the style of Salvador Dali, which we need to do some more research on but, I think, it could fly at auction.”

Alongside a team of six valuers, programme presenter Paul Martin and on-screen experts Philip Serrell and Elizabeth Talbot mingled with visitors. The follow-up auction is due to take place at Stacey’s Auctioneers and Valuers, Webster’s Way, Rayleigh on August 20.