VETERAN actor George Baker had to leave his hospital bed to take part in the filming of an episode of Celebrity Cash in the Attic at Aldridge’s saleroom in Devizes on Saturday.

Mr Baker, 77, had fractured his hip in a fall at his home in West Lavington on March 3, the anniversary of the death of his second wife Sally, and had undergone major surgery at Salisbury District Hospital the Saturday before last.

Despite still recuperating, doctors allowed Mr Baker out of hospital for the recording on the condition he immediately returned there after the filming was over. He attended in a wheelchair pushed by his former colleague from the Wexford TV series, Christopher Ravenscroft.

Angela Rippon, the presenter of the show, paid tribute to Mr Baker. She said: “What a trouper.”

She explained to bidders at Saturday’s auction that Mr Baker was selling off some of his treasures to raise money for West Lavington Youth Club, which he had founded after seeing local youngsters huddled in a bus shelter in freezing weather because they had nowhere else to meet up. She said: “George has been selfless in his support for this charity and I hope you will bid generously for the items he has up for sale.”

Mr Baker told the Gazette he had been putting logs onto the fire at his home in Stibb Hill, Market Lavington, when he had taken a tumble. He said: “It was so stupid, but there is nothing you can do. The staff at Salisbury hospital have been magnificent. The doctors expect me to make a full recovery, but it’s going to take time.

“I have cleared my diary for the next three months, except for a very important charity event on April 18.”

A total of £1,700 was raised for the youth club by the items that Mr Baker put up for sale. All of them exceeded the experts’ estimates.

The most valuable was a terracotta table lamp, dating from 1914 to 1925, of an Edwardian lady holding a parasol, which fetched £1,100.