STAR of TV sitcom Men Behaving Badly came to Barnton to put his bargain hunting skills to the test.

Neil Morrissey, who has appeared in Boon, Waterloo and Line of Duty, was filming BBC's Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.

This show teams up antiques experts and celebrities as they travel around the country in classic cars searching for treasures to compete against each other at auction. Any profits are given to BBC Children in Need.

The 57-year-old actor joined auctioneer Charles Hanson, 41, from Derbyshire, to look for items at Northwich Antiques & Collectables Centre.

The pair were up against Izzie Balmer, head valuer at Wessex Auction Rooms, and John Chalmers, a Scottish TV presenter, Invictus Games medallist and former Royal Marine who was seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2011.

The film crew spent more than five hours at the shop last Monday preparing and shooting scenes for the programme which is due be screened later this year or early spring 2020.

Northwich Guardian:

Charles Hanson and Neil Morrissey browsing round in their search for bargains

All four presenters came to the store but only Neil and Charles bought items which will be auctioned at Cuttlestones Auctioneers in Penkridge, Birmingham.

Julie Critchley, who owns the antiques shop with husband Peter, said: "It was really exciting. Charles Hanson was charming, witty and very pleasant. He is always very humorous.

"Neil Morrissey seemed to know a lot about antiques and was very interested in metal wear.

"The whole team of around 10 people enjoyed refreshments throughout the day plus a delicious lunch provided by our tea room."

The pair haggled with owners and eventually bought a cast iron railway information plaque, an art deco tea set and a silver baby teether. The prices they paid are being kept under wraps until the show is aired.

Northwich Guardian:

Neil Morrissey and Charles Hanson haggle with unit holder Sylvia Collins as they buy an art deco tea set

They were spoilt for choice as a vast range of glass ware, coins, stamps, jewellery, pictures, crystal wear, household items, toys, dolls, teddy bears and quirky pieces are displayed on four floors.

Owners who display their goods in cabinets and units came in specially in case items from their cabinets or displays were chosen.

The centre on Runcorn Road opened 10 years ago and employs 10 full and part-time staff.

Northwich Guardian:

Neil Morrissey chats to unit holder Anne O'Keefe outside Northwich Antiques & Collectables Centre

Julie runs the shop, which is affiliated to Warrington Auction, where sales are held and her husband is a senior auctioneer.

"Peter was a chartered accountant but always had a passion for antiques," said Julie. "He started at the bottom of the ladder and worked his way up over 20 years to become an auctioneer."

These days, she said, is very rare that something bought for a song at a car boot sale or jumble sale ends up making a fortune.

"There are so many antiques TV programmes on now that people have much more knowledge," said Julie.

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However, at a recent auction, a whisky collection sold for an astonishing £18,000!

Julie added: "The whisky belonged to a local man who had been a keen fisherman and collected a bottle every time he went up to Scotland fishing over a 20 year period. One individual bottle sold to an American dealer for £4,000! The owner was pleasantly surprised at what his many bottles of whisky, originally purchased at less than £30 a bottle finally sold for."