A NANTWICH auctioneer has hit the big time after being taken on by a prestigious Chester firm.

Jessica Lewis, aged 27 and from Audlem, has just left Nantwich's Fine Art Auction House to take up the post of Business Manager at Halls Fine Art in Chester.

The new role will see Jessica travelling all over the country and will be just rewards for the four years she put in at the Nantwich firm.

Jessica is a specialist in jewellery, silver, paintings and ceramics and has a wide range of experience, including auctioneering.

A graduate in fine art valuation at Southampton University, Jessica said of her new challenge: "I am looking forward to getting a complete all round knowledge of the business and helping the company flourish in Chester.

"The beauty of the job is that you do not know what is going to come in over the counter daily and every day presents a different challenge," Jessica added.

Jessica has certainly proven her worth after identifying a Royal Doulton gnome in a house clearance, which eventually went on to be sold for £4,000 to an American buyer.