A CELEBRITY visit saw a Darlington auction house packed with bargain hunters today (Tuesday, July 8).

The team behind popular daytime television show Bargain Hunt were at Thomas Watson Auctioneers to film four episodes at a sale that was open to the public.

Antiques experts Philip Serrel and Anita Manning joined popular host Tim Wonnacott at the auction room where eight teams of contestants put their chosen items up for sale.

Among the items sold was an old fashioned ornamental plough that was estimated to be worth £20 but sold for £150 and a curling stone that made £100, despite its worth being estimated at just £40.

Peter Robinson, who has worked at the auction room for 40 years, lead today’s sale.

He said: “It was great fun, we had a really big crowd and were very busy with the Bargain Hunt contestants and their crew.

“We don’t know yet whether the contestants made or lost money but people were getting carried away and items sold for more than they would on a normal day.”

He added: “The Bargain Hunt team have been here before and quite openly say they like to come here because it’s an old fashioned, traditional sale room.

“We’ve been in our building more than 100 years where a lot of other places are moving out of town.”