Having emptied their attics and searched their cellars, scores of people dusted off family heirlooms this weekend as the BBC's Antiques Roadshow came to town.

Queues stretched along Catte Street and across Radcliffe Square as the hopeful hoarders waited patiently to enter Oxford University's Hertford College, where the show was being recorded.

More than 1,500 people attended, eager to hear what the 22 experts had to say about their valuables.

Specialists sat in the college quad giving their opinions as camera crews filmed all the action.

Among some of the first to seek expert advice were Emily Godwin, 20, and mum Nicola, from Wheatley.

They had a Minton china figurine and costume which were given to Nicola's mother when she was four years old.

Mrs Godwin said: "My grandfather used to work for Minton and when my mother was four she was asked to model this costume for the company and was given the statue as a thank you.

"We have been told there are only two of these statues in the world, but don't know if that's true and have no idea how much it might be worth."

Geoff Hogan and wife Jenny, from Eynsham, together with their children - Clare, 14, Harry, 11, and nine- year-old Paddyall corr - had brought along a chair which was given to Mrs Hogan's grandfather by renowned physician Sir William Osler. It was given a "very encouraging" valuation, which the family preferred not to reveal.

Mrs Hogan added: "For us it's about the sentimental value. My grandfather was a protege of Sir William's and was given the chair as a present by his wife after his death."

David Bowsher, from Abingdon, had brought along were some sets of false teeth. Mr Bowsher, who works for the county council, said: "I love collecting all manner of things and I picked these up at a fair a while ago."

Fiona Bruce, the show's presenter, mingled with the public in the college quad, where she was once a student. The newsreader and former Crimewatch UK presenter, who studied French and Italian in the 1980s, said: "It's great to be back in Oxford and I love being part of this show.

"It's incredibly exciting to think we have no idea of what's being brought in - it could be worthless, it could be amazing."

The programme is due to be shown in November on BBC1.