A York Aladdin's Cave of stolen treasures may provide the inspiration for an Antiques Roadshow spin-off, which would help reunite theft victims with their priceless possessions.

This weekend police forces from all over Britain will converge on the National Railway Museum in the hope of finding the owners of unclaimed antiques at a special exhibition organised by York police.

Everything from marble garden ornaments to furniture, paintings and jewellery will be on display at the two-day event - and the Antiques Roadshow team will be taking part.

Det Sgt Jacqui Williamson, who is organising the Leeman Road showcase, said antiques expert Paul Attenberry and his colleagues from the Sunday evening television show would be on hand to highlight the more unusual items.

"They will be recording a pilot programme where they will be describing and valuing the items, in the hope their owners will get in touch," said Det Sgt Williamson.

"They will also be discussing the impact of theft with victims of crime and speaking to people who have managed to track their property down.

"Eric Knowles, who has appeared on the programme and presents Going For A Song, has also asked to come along.

"Experts from the antiques trade will be on hand to offer advice on general security and tracing stolen items and commercial companies like Smart Water and Identidot will also have stands.

"Police crime prevention officers will be offering information on security - it's now possible to have garden statues and even trees wired up to an alarm system - and to advise on planting shrubs and bushes to deter thieves.

"We want to get the message across that we do care about the public and are constantly working to get their property back to them."

An antiques expert from the National Trust will arrive in York tomorrow to help the police prepare the items for viewing, as many of them need specialist cleaning.

Heavy security is being organised for the event and police officers and dog teams will patrolling the building and the surrounding area day and night.

The most valuable items, including a £1.2 million antique necklace recovered by West Yorkshire Police, will be moved to York Police Station for safekeeping overnight.

The Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Derek Smallwood, will open the event, which is being sponsored by York insurers CGU, at 10am on Saturday.

The exhibition is the first of its kind in the North of England, but the police hope it will become an annual opportunity to enable crime victims from across Britain to identify property at close quarters.

The event runs from 10am on both days and entry is free. Visitors to the event can also obtain reduced entrance fees to the railway museum.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.