Antiques Road Trip crew visits Hartlepool shop

Paul Laidlaw and the film crew from the BBC2 hit programme Antiques Road Trip called into Hartlepool’s Kiwi Trading Antito see what they could find.

The show, which follows experts scouring the country for items to sell at auction, filmed a section in the town shop, to be aired at a later date.

Alan Bamford, co-owner of Kiwi Trading in Osbourne Road, said they were delighted to be chosen to take part.

He said: “They must have researchers looking for places, because we just got a phone call out of the blue asking if they could come along.

“We were delighted because it is good for the shop and it is also good to have Hartlepool on the programme.”

Kiwi Trading has been running for about six years and boasts an Aladdin’s Cave of items, from antique furniture, through to jewellery, ornaments and all sort of bric-a-brac, vintage and retro items.

Alan said: “Most of our stuff comes from house clearances, but we do get people call in with things and ask if we want to buy them.

“We do get people asking if we can value things, but we are not experts at all, so we don’t do that sort of thing.”

Alan explained that he started off at the premises selling cars until he met his co-owner, Alan Padgett, who had lived in New Zealand for many years, hence the nickname, Kiwi Alan, which became the name of the company.

He said: “Alan was really into selling furniture and asked if we could start selling a few bits in the store.

“Soon it just took over and we stopped dealing with the cars.”

The Antiques Road Trip team spent a while scouring for goodies which they hope will net them a profit. Expert Paul, said: “This is a fantastic place.

“Even if I wasn’t filming and I just drove past, I would have to come in because it looks so interesting.”

Viewers can see if the team found any hidden treasures in Kiwi Trading.