EXPERTS ran their eyes over treasures brought in by art lovers for a Sotheby's valuation day in Dorchester.

Collectors rolled up with items such as paintings, candlesticks, pictures of furniture, pottery and silverware for the Antiques Roadshow-style event.

General valuer Jeremy Waite and paintings expert Dendy Easton examined the valuables during the morning session at the King's Arms in High West Street.

The most prized item was a picture of a yacht painted by JW Carmichael in 1830 and worth between £8,000 and £12,000.

Mr Waite, who is based in Sotheby's Salisbury office, said: "We had a bit of a rush early on.

"People brought in a variety of items. We had a good range of ceramics and silverware as well as a nice Lalique glass bowl.

"The valuation day has gone very well."

A collector from Dorchester brought in a still life painting of strawberries, grapes and plums by Charles Thomas Bale dating from 1880.

Mr Easton said: "It's a very pretty painting and quite an unusual one - he didn't normally just paint fruit on its own.

"It is also in its original condition with no attempt at restoration, which makes it more valuable."

The valuers were given the painting, thought to be worth £500 to £600, by its Dorchester owner to be auctioned at Olympia by Sotheby's.

One pensioner brought in an 18th century candlestick to be valued as well as picture of her Dutch display cabinet, which was made in 1720 and is worth about £5,000.

She said: "I have four of the candlesticks and it seems they are worth about £3,000 altogether.

"Mr Waite also spotted a ceramic tile I had in the window of the dresser and said it was a piece of Poole pottery worth about £50. I must have bought it in a secondhand shop for 50 pence, so it was a nice surprise."

Mr Easton said: "The best finds are not necessarily found in the most wealthy houses.

"People are still finding paintings worth thousands which have been hidden away in attics."

Mr Waite added: "We decided to come to Dorchester and other towns once every two or three months to make it easier for people to see us.

"We will tell them about items, value them and take them to Sotheby's if they want them auctioned."