A SHOP OWNER who uncovered century-old newspaper bills stuffed in a wall has had his discovery valued on The Antiques Roadshow.

Chris Fugeman, owner of Marts Parts store, in Devonshire Road, Burnham, discovered old copies of national newspaper bills, used to lure shoppers into a store, while taking down panelling in October last year.

A number of the bills featured on the BBC One show on Sunday after Mr Fugeman took them along to be valued at Audley End House, in Saf- fron Walden, in May.

The bills, stuffed into the wall as insulation, were promotions for The Times, Daily Mirror and Daily Ex- press dating back to 1914, all headlining the advent of the First World War.

Mr Fugeman, 48, said: “I decided to go as I wanted to find out if they were collectable, if they were unique and ultimately if they were worth anything.

“After six hours of queuing, being on my own and not being able to go in the shade or get a drink in case I lost my place in the queue, I spoke to the experts. I knew there was going to be a lot of interest and as we started looking at them Paul Atterbury came over and another expert started look- ing at it.”

The production crew then decided to film Mr Fugeman for the show.

The bills were valued at around £1,000 in total.

Mr Fugeman, of Ferry Road, Creeksea, added: “Subsequently from last night, I have been contacted by a couple of collectors offering a little bit more.

“One of the pieces I am giving to a gentleman because his great-grandfa- ther was one of the people on a boat which sank in the first few days of the war.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

“I am going to keep some and frame them. A couple of friends have ex- pressed an interest as well.

“It is not about the money, it is about the social history.”

Mr Fugeman’s appearance, which he had kept a secret, was shown on the same episode as a picture of the Fat Man at Maldon.

He said: “I thought that meant a lot of people would tune in to watch it.

“A lot of people have contacted me on Facebook and I have had friends texting me. I even had a text from a friend in Australia who had seen it on Facebook.”