HUNDREDS of people turned up with a wide range of items for the visit to Newport of the TV series Flog It!

They descended on Newport Centre on Sunday to get valuations from the team of experts at the BBC antiques show. Some had been waiting for more than two hours for the doors to open.

Presenter Paul Martin said: "I love coming to Wales and it's great to be in Newport. I love the Welsh people and it is always special being here."

People from all over Gwent came clutching items ranging from tea sets and plates to ornamental horses and guns - all hoping for a good valuation and get them put forward for auction.

Pontypool couple Gaynor and Steve Baldwin brought in several items including a decorative plate hand-painted by nuns valued at £200.

Mrs Baldwin said: "I was so pleased to see Paul. I love him and I got to talk to him and get a picture and autograph. He is so lovely it was worth meeting him alone."

Mr Baldwin was pleased at the amount the items brought. He said: "£200 is not that bad really. It is a good Father's Day present, I suppose!"

Several items caught Mr Martin's eye as he walked around the hall signing hundreds of autographs.

He said: "I have seen a few items I would like to look at closer, such as an 1860 Crimean war rifle engraved with a name. I would like to research the history of that."

Another item on the day was a signed rugby ball from the Welsh squad in 2000.

Selected items will go for up sale at the Athemion Auctions in Cardiff on July 20.