Monday's Bank Holiday Brocante already seems weeks away, but this sketch by cartoonist Pip Bailey shows exactly what the antiques sale means for some.

You know the one: Your partner clears off in the morning looking for a bargain, but when the door flings open at tea time, you despair to see what they've wasted their money on.

Of course it wasn't like that for most of the thousands who flocked to Walmer Green on the hunt for treasure.

Walmer Parish Council's councillor Marguerite Beard-Gould, chairman of the committee which organises the event, set up a valuation session with Canterbury Auction Galleries.

She said: “This year’s finds included a diamond and sapphire tie pin and a silver cream jug and sugar bowl dated 1867.

“The most valuable item of the day was a gold, diamond and ruby 1950’s cocktail watch and the most unusual was copy of a 1560 coin known as a groat.”

Walmer Parish Council chairman Cllr Sue Le Chevalier added: “The unexpected good weather, the local sailing regatta out on the water, and the Brocante thronging with people on the Green made a truly picturesque sight for the many visitors to the area.”

For more pictures of the sell out event, see this week's Mercury.

Meanwhile we wonder if Mr Bailey's cartoon holds an element of truth about his Bank Holiday purchases!