People urged to dust off forgotten valuables for ‘cash in the attic’ event

Antiques and fine art auctioneers Dee Atkinson & Harrison team are holding the event at their Hessle offices for the first time.

Saleroom Manager Pippa Whiteley said: “We do get a lot of entries into our auctions from the area but we have never staged a valuation clinic here for the local people, so it something of a new venture.

“The team will include specialists in the whole range of antiques and collectables, so we’ll be happy to look at absolutely anything, whether people are thinking of selling or simply want to know more about treasures that have been in the family for generations.

“Auction prices are particularly strong at the moment for gold, jewellery, good pictures and collectables but the most unlikely things can turn up real surprises.”

Auctioneer Graham Paddison said: “There is massive demand for Chinese antiquities at the moment.

“It is probably too much to hope that anyone is going to turn up with an 18th century Qing dynasty vase - like the one that recently sold for £53m - but this area has been home to seafarers for centuries, so who knows what treasures lie hidden away in the rarely visited corners of attics.”

Unusual, interesting or pretty pieces of jewellery were worth a look, as were the various fields of collecting from cigarette cards to militaria, and toys and games, ahead of next month’s Classic Toy and Collectable Auction.

The valuation clinic will be at the firm’s offices at 6, Hull Road, Hessle, on Wednesday, from 11am to 4pm.