What bids for the sofa Mel sat on? (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

What bids for the sofa Mel sat on?

Terry and Teresa MessengerIT may look like just an old sofa but it's rather special because Melinda Messenger has sat on it on countless occasions.

And you could be the proud owner of the red leather three-piece suite, along with many other items of furniture from the Messenger family.

The model turned TV presenter's dad, Terry and step mother Teresa, have sold their Swindon home and are auctioning some of its contents to make a fresh start in Wales.

Terry, 56, said: "We're sorry to part with some of the furniture. It's not worth a fortune but it's the emotional value that makes parting with it a pity."

A pine bedside table, washstand, chests of drawers, bookcase and brass coal scuttle are among the 25 lots to go under the hammer next week.

"We're going for a modern look in our new place, using lots of glass and metal. So sadly this stuff has got to go," he said.

Their cherished dining suite, a huge mahogany and oak table with 10 matching chairs, has already been snapped up by their neighbours, Kaz and Dani Walega.

"Melinda danced on that table. Sitting together as a family for dinner was always very important to me, so the table was probably the hardest thing to part with," Teresa, 54, said.

The couple are also sorry to say goodbye to Swindon, having been in the same house, Marsh Farm Cottage, in Farmhouse Lane, for 21 years.

They first met while working at WH Smith, in Greenbridge, and were married at Immanuel Church, in Upham Road, in 1984.

Teresa said: "We had our wedding reception in this house and borrowed tables from the church. There are so many happy memories here, it's very emotional to bid it all farewell."

They will also miss their copy of the Evening Advertiser landing on the doorstep every day.

"The Advertiser was part of the furniture for us. I felt quite distressed without it," Terry said.

Their two dogs, Ben, eight, and Lottie, five, will be joining them at the granary they have bought in a secluded village, near Brecon.

And Melinda, who lives near Purton with her husband, Wayne, and their three children, will of course be welcome guests.

He said: "She hasn't seen it yet because she's been too busy. It's on a different scale to her properties but she said it looks lovely from the pictures."

The auction takes place at Kidson-Trigg Auction Rooms, near Highworth, next Wednesday and Thursday. Terry said: "There are no reserve prices so it will all be sold to the highest bidder."

Although Melinda won't be at the sale, she is visiting the same auction rooms next month as the presenter of a new TV series about antiques, called Beat The Dealer.

Pippa Kidson-Trigg, marketing manager at Kidson-Trigg, said: "We like our items to be of good provenance and Melinda is very much a local girl."

The lots going under under the hammer...

Red leather three-piece suite

Contemporary design fabric three-piece suite

Bamboo shelves

Brass coal scuttle

Pine chest of drawers

Pine washstand

Pine bedside table

Mahogany chest of drawers

17th century oak centre table

Modern bookcase

Oak carved food cupboard

Old washing mangle