A TV antiques expert has helped raise more than £600 towards the coffers for a new million pound church in Penketh.

Built in 1860, Penketh Methodist Church on Chapel Road had started falling into disrepair with renovations to make the old building safe exceeding the cost of demolition and starting again.

The Victorian church was bulldozed at the beginning of the month to make way for a new building and a variety of fundraising initiatives have been carried out by the congregation to raise funds.

Adam Partridge, one of the stars of BBC’s Flog It, attended a special auction at the church hall on April 4, where residents could have their antiques valued.

Betty Stirk, one of the organisers of the event, said: “We raised £600 on the day through the valuations, coffee and lunches. It was a very successful few hours.

“Adam Partridge was a lovely lad and quite a few people left their antiques with him for him to sell at his auction house with the proceeds to go to the church building fund.”

Lynn Bolton was among the residents to donate their valuables to the fund after having a set of plates valued at £50 by Adam.