No cash in THE ATTIC

We're having a clear-out. Everything must go

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Hello and welcome to Antiques Roadshow, which this week comes from the elegant surroundings of Dear Towers, where members of the Dear family have been in residence from as far back as the late 20th century.

You join us in the kitchen, and here on the table placed carefully on a couple of old newspapers - is something very interesting indeed.

Mrs Dear, can you tell us a little about it? 'It's something I found in the attic. It's been there for years.' And what exactly does it do? 'It's the engine from an old washing machine. When we got rid of the machine, probably in the late 1980s, Mr Dear removed the engine. He insisted that it might come in useful at some point.' And did it come in useful? 'Of course it didn't. It's been up there all this time, getting in the way. I don't need to ask you what it's worth, even for scrap value.' Mr Dear is a bit of a chump on the quiet, isn't he? 'Chump is a polite word for Mr Dear, if you ask me.' This is a bit harsh on Mr D... by the way, this is no longer the voice of Antiques Roadshow. You're stuck with me again, I'm afraid.