BOWES Museum's famous Silver Swan received a showbiz visit from Bargain Hunt's antiques experts.

Show presenter Tim Wonnacott and his team visited the museum in Barnard Castle, County Durham, on Sunday to film a segment of the popular BBC show.

As part of the show's new series this summer, the Bargain Hunt Team is visiting various North-East locations.

They were at an antiques fair in Darlington yesterday and will be antique hunting in Barnard Castle today.

Mr Wonnacott was impressed with the museum's famous silver swan, designed by James Cox in the 1770s.

He said: "It is a great opportunity to be able to promote Bowes Museum and I am enjoying my time in County Durham where we are filming at various locations. Our show is watched worldwide by two million viewers so hopefully our coverage will boost tourism to the museum.

"I was very impressed by the Silver Swan, which is an exceptional mechanical formation, I have seen other items made by Cox and this is one of the most impressive."

Mr Wonnacott also commented on the botanical cabinet and sugar sculpture inside the museum.

He said: "Both are extraordinary items, particularly the sugar sculpture, which is a very unique tableware decoration."

Ruth Robson, head of marketing and development at the museum, said: "We are delighted that the BBC is filming the programme in the North-East and has chosen to feature the museum.

"This exposure on national television is a great opportunity to promote our unique collections of fine and decorative arts."

Museum visitor Ada Patterson, 81, from Hartlepool, said: "Bargain Hunt is one of my favourite shows and it is fantastic that it is being filmed in the North-East,

"I just love seeing what antiques the contestants bring each week. The show makes my lunch times very enjoyable."

Bargain Hunt is on BBC1 daily from Monday to Friday from 12.15pm to 1pm.

The series will be aired in the autumn.