HUNDREDS of people found out if they had hidden gems or junk worth just a couple of pounds when a hit BBC programme came to Basingstoke.

Flog It! was filmed last Friday at Milestones Museum, offering people the chance to have their antiques, collections or quirky items valued by experts to see if they were worth a small fortune.

Presenter Paul Martin, three valuation experts – James Lewis, Nick Davies and Elizabeth Talbot – and television crews drew more than 500 people to the Basingstoke Leisure Park venue.

Some of the items examined included lamps, ornaments, pictures and trinket boxes. But it was a pair of vases, brought in by a Basingstoke pensioner, that were one of the main highlights of the filming.

Grandfather-of-two Graham Hillier, of Hanmore Road, Chineham, brought along the two bronze vases and a Chinese tea caddy, and was left gobsmacked when he was told the vases were worth between £6,000 and £10,000.

The 66-year-old told The Gazette: “He (James Lewis) said they were 18th century and from China, and he was reading the inscription round the base.

“I inherited them from my mother, and they originally came from my mother’s sister’s second husband who was Indonesian. I am glad I came, and I am going to be taking it to auction.

“I didn’t expect them to be worth that much. I thought they were worth more than £500 but I didn’t expect that much.”

Grandmother-of-three Carole Morris was another lucky Basingstoke resident chosen to appear on the show.

The 73-year-old, of Foyle Park, Cranbourne, queued up from 9am and took two railway lamps that she bought from the Watercress Line, in Alton. Mr Martin told the grandmother that the lamps were worth around £50 each.

Carole said: “I am pleased with the valuation. I got them from the Watercress Line and it was about 20 years ago. They were raising funds for the engine restoration, and I think I paid £20 for them. It has been a great experience coming here.”

Footage from the event will be used to make four episodes and a special collectibles edition of the show, which will air in the next 18 months.

Presenter Paul Martin said Milestones Museum was a great location for the show, telling The Gazette: “It has been brilliant. The numbers in the crowd were great.

“I came here about seven years ago to make a show about domestic appliances, and it was nice to come back and spend the whole day here with the public.”