THE time was right for a Kendal man who struck lucky at the Antiques Roadshow.

Brian Weaver, 70, decided to get a clock evaluated by the BBC's antique experts and discovered that it was worth up to £20,000.

He bought the time piece in China in 1993 when he was working for the British Council.

"I used to go around markets to furnish my flat and somebody told me about this clock," said Brian.

"So I went to a house in the suburbs of Beijing and there was nothing in there except a table and the clock."

Brian paid £1,000 for it - a sum he acknowledged will have 'changed the life' of the impoverished lady he bought it off.

It transpired the clock was made in London in 1770 and can play four songs when it chimes on the hour.

Brian was not shocked by the evaluation, which appeared on last Sunday's Antiques Roadshow from Chenies Manor, Buckinghamshire.

"It has the wow factor," he said.

"I think they tend to slightly over egg the pudding but it's a realistic price in today's market."

He remains undecided as to whether or not to cash in on his prized asset.

"I can't make my mind up what to do with it," said Brian, who was also posted to India and Nigeria during his time at the British Council.

"It's too ostentatious to keep in the house and it's musical so it goes off every three hours! It is an impressive looking thing, though."