WHAT do you have hiding in your cupboards at home that could help you raise cash in time for Christmas?
With the economic climate continuing to blight our lives, more and more of us are turning to our attics and cupboards in search of unwanted valuables to exchange for money.
The recent success of the Grimsby Telegraph's Classified Live boot sale event, the popularity of auctions and the number of "cash for gold" businesses in the area are proof that people are willing to part with unwanted belongings to raise money.
And with the price of gold at an all-time high and silver valuations on the rise – both because of limited global supplies – there has never been a better time to get digging.
Sarah Duly and her father Roger – who has 45 years experience in the antiques industry – founded Windsor Jewellery six years ago to cater for the demand from people wanting to part with their valuables.
"We've found that lots of people have a look in their cupboards and find items they'd completely forgotten they had that could be worth some money," she said.
"These people often offer the items to their children and grandchildren but they don't tend to be interested in things like pocket watches so they start looking into selling them instead.
"Because of the global shortage of precious metals and stones, there is a real market for all kinds of objects. Take things like pre-1947 silver coins, for example. They have a high proportion of silver in them so we pay ten times the face value and then melt them down to get the silver out."
And to help you make the most of your forgotten valuables, the Telegraph has teamed up with Windsor Jewellery to host a special two-day event on Monday and Tuesday, from 10am to 4pm each day.
All you need to do is bring your small items along to the Grimsby Telegraph building, in Cleethorpe Road, and the experts from Windsor will value them and offer you a cash price.
And there are some items in particular that the experts are eager to see, including gold and silver jewellery, watches and diamonds.
Any of the following items could reap you big rewards in time for Christmas:
Pre-1947 silver coins.
Broken or complete gold jewellery, whether it is hallmarked or not.
War medals.
Half sovereigns, which are valued at about £120.
Full sovereigns, which are valued at about £240.
Kruggerand gold coins, which are worth £1,020.
Vintage Rolex and Omega Divers watches from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, as well as Submariners and Seamasters in any condition.
Sarah added: "The price of gold is particularly high at the moment, but we're also interested in any other small items which people often have hanging around their homes. Vintage wrist watches, pocket watches and diamond jewellery can all achieve good prices.
"If you're willing to bring your items to us, then we're happy to have a look at them and let you know what they are worth."
The special event at the Telegraph is in addition to Windsor Jewellery's regular valuation events at Grimsby's St James' Hotel. The next one is due to take place tomorrow and Sunday, from 10am to 4pm, so there are four opportunities to swap your items for cash in just one week.
Note: All prices quoted are subject to variations based on the market value