BUMPER crowds packed out Lulworth Castle yesterday as the Antiques Roadshow rolled up in Purbeck.

Thousands of people clutching a variety of items – from the world of high art to the simply bizarre – queued anxiously in the morning sun for their turn under the experts’ gaze.

A team of art historians were on hand to examine the artefacts and to give them their all important valuations.

One Blandford woman, Sarah Ward, told the Daily Echo she was “pleasantly surprised” at the £8,000 price tag given for her antique opal and platinum ring.

“I bought it for myself 20 years ago for a fraction of that price.”

But it is not just about the money – many of the items on show had great stories behind them or were priceless to their owners.

Sarah explained: “I purchased the ring during a particularly difficult period in my life, so it means a lot to me. It was a treat when perhaps I could ill afford it but everything has worked out all right in the end.”

Antiques Roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce, who is working on the programme for her fourth year, said it continued to be an amazing experience. She said: “Exploring the human story behind every object is what makes the Antiques Roadshow so fascinating.

“And everyone loves the agony and ecstasy of the ‘what’s it worth?’ moment.”

Among the other items brought along to Lulworth was a mini motorbike, whose owner believes was once owned by John Lennon.

John Harington, who has renovated the Honda Z50A mini trial bike, said: “I have full documentation including the original log book from 1969.

“It was bought by John Lennon as a toy to ride around his estate.”

Wimborne woman Jackie Counter brought along a diesel-powered toy rail car for the experts to view.

She said: “They’d never seen one like it before.”

Filming continued all day, and the 34th series of the BBC show will be aired later this year.