Ref. 72728-169HE may be more at home digging over flowerbeds, but celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh was up to his elbows delving into the past when he came to Wroughton.

And people in Swindon were among the first to lend him a hand.

The Science Museum Wroughton hosted the BBC's first 20th Century Roadshow yesterday with people from across Wiltshire bringing items and artefacts from the last 100 years to find out whether they could be treasures.

The former Gardener's World presenter will be the frontman for the programme, which will follow a similar format to the Antiques Roadshow, travelling the country looking for items of historic and financial importance.

Hundreds of people went to the museum's D4 hangar to have items valued and look at the exhibitions on display, which ranged from showbiz and recreation pieces such as autographs and toys, through to clothing and domestic equipment such as cake tins and glassware.

Pauline and Kevin Weaver, from Stratton St Margaret, were among the first to arrive.

They took a Renee Lalique-style glass bowl that belonged to her mother to be valued, but expert Marc Allum said the piece was only a cheap copy, worth £20-30.

Mrs Weaver said: "My mother used the bowl for flower arranging and it was passed down to me.

"The expert told us it was only a cheap copy made in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, and he's seen hundreds. But we're not disappointed because we didn't expect anything. I only wanted to learn a little about the piece because it was a favourite of my mother's.

"Even if it was valuable I wouldn't sell it because it's been part of the family heritage for so long."

Simon Shaw, producer of the show, said: "People will have many things from the 20th century in their homes that are valuable, both culturally and financially.

"It's not just the antiques that are worth something."

The show is to be broadcast in April next year. The next roadshow will take place at Butlins in Skegness on November 12.