AN item in a West Devon woman's house gave a boost to the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team after it was auctioned for the BBC programme 'Flog It'.

Mary Traynor took some antiques to the 'Flog It' valuation day at Buckland Abbey a few months ago and was picked out to be filmed for the show and attend the auction.

Mary said: 'I had a couple of antique items I wanted valued, so when I read that Flog It was coming I decided to take them along to the valuation. On my way out of the house I picked up another small item on the spur of the moment and popped it in my bag.

'When Catherine Southon stopped in the queue and asked to see what I brought, I accidentally pulled out the last-minute item from my bag. She was immediately interested and I was shown to a table. I was subsequently filmed and asked to attend the auction in Plymouth. The sale went well and I was delighted with the result for my item.'

Mary sold her item for £72 and decided to donate the money to the Tavistock branch of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (DSRT).

'The item belonged to my father, who was a Dartmoor walker for more than 60 years and was an avid letter-boxer, which is what the presenter Paul Martin was doing the day before the valuations,' said Mary,

'Fortunately we never had the need to call on the DSRT for him, but there are those for whom the group is a life-saver.

'When my dad died 13 years ago, I asked for any donations to be given to the Tavistock branch of the DSRT and it seemed only appropriate that the DRST should be the recipients of the monies received from this sale.

'I haven't revealed just what the item is — if anyone is curious, then they will have to watch out for the Flog It programme which is due to be shown early this year.'