SPECIALIST auctioneers will be holding a free-to-all valuation day in Petersfield so the owners of antique, old or collectable items can find out how much they might be worth.

As well as giving an ’auction’ price, having items valued can help owners insure them for the right amount, says Lockdales of Ipswich.

Coin expert Chris Elmey said: "As well as collectables, we will be happy to value complete collections and antiques.

"We will also be happy to value historical finds that metal detectorists may have uncovered, as long as the finds have been registered properly.

"At the moment we are also seeing a lot of more recent items such as Rolex watches.

"We have held hundreds of valuation days all over the UK, and we often turn up some very rare and interesting items at them.

"One item in particular, a unique gold coin from the Dark Ages, was taken along to a previous event.

"The owner was not aware of its value, and we later sold it on his behalf at auction for more than £19,000."

On hand for the valuation day in the Festival Hall off Heath Road will be qualified professionals able to give expert valuations on item such as coins, stamps, banknotes, clocks, watches, silver, gold, documents, pre-1900 books and maps, medals and militaria including swords, bayonets and de-activated and antique weapons, cigarette cards, postcards, pre-1960 sports programmes and tickets, and scientific instruments.

Once items are valued, the owners can decide if they want to sell them on the spot, put them in either the May or June Lockdales sales at their Suffolk auction house, or use the valuation for insurance purposes.

Chris added: "Valuations will be provided entirely free of charge without any obligation to sell.

"But owners will have the option, if they wish, to consign their goods to be sold in a future public auction,

"Or they may request a cash purchase offer from Lockdales themselves."

Lockdales has been holding six auctions per year since 1997, and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading specialist auction houses, with an annual turnover in excess of £2 million.

For information about the valuation day on Friday (March 1) from 10am to 4pm, contact Lockdales’ Ipswich offices on 01473 627110, send an email to [email protected], or visit the website at www.lockdales.com