BBC antiques expert Thomas Plant dropped in at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital for a fundraising valuation day.

Mr Plant, 34, who has appeared on TV’s Bargain Hunt and Flog It! valued items for members of the public to raise money for the hospital’s Foetal Medicine Fund.

The event today at Tingewick Hall, the hospital’s academic centre, is expected to raise about £1,000 for the fund which contributes towards the care of mums with high-risk pregnancies.

Mr Plant’s wife Angela, 33, from Cowley, said she and her husband organised the fundraiser after their seven-month-old twins Jemima and William were born at the hospital. She said: “Twins can be a slightly higher risk pregnancy than normal.

“There were a couple of complications during my pregnancy and we were helped by the unit, which relies heavily on charitable donations. About 100 people throughout the day brought in their antiques for valuation, including toys, silverware and old pictures.

“This is our way of saying thank you to all the staff, including consultant obstetrician Lawrence Impey, who handled our case.”