TREASURE hunters at a Newport auction house put their hands in their pockets and bid blind for repossessed storage containers inspired by two hit US TV shows.

Using the format of the Storage Wars and Storage Hunters, where bidders only get a quick peek inside the units before they gamble on whether to bid, Newport Auctions sold six mystery containers under the hammer yesterday.

The six lots were the star attraction of yesterday’s auction, with bidders forking out from £80 to £280 for the containers.

Auctioneer Jon Collingbourne said: “We’ve been selling this stock for storage companies for some time. We usually sort through it, catalogue it and deal with it but after today, I think this is the way forward from what I saw.

“It’s a risk, there might be something that would’ve made more.”

He said the storage containers are the contents of storage units that have been repossessed and disposed of by the companies, after a failure to pay.

“The storage companies need to keep turning over the room,” Mr Collingbourne added. “They notify them and give them ample opportunity to collect it.

“Historically we would send the van to the storage companies and empty it out but this time we went and picked up the whole containers.”

One of the winning bidders was Brian Williams, aged 40 from Usk who bought the first container for £120.

Mr Williams clears houses and usually takes things to the auctioneers to sell.

He said: “It’s like gambling. I saw a few things in there, a lot of boxes and maybe some conservatory furniture but what can you buy for £120. Hopefully it’ll pay off.”

Mr Williams admitted he did not think his wife would be impressed but after having a better look, discovered the lot also included a chest of drawers, a television and a solid wood table.

Andrew Gillard, aged 35, of Newport, regularly attends the auction and managed to bag a container for just £80.

He said it was a risk but that he knew there was a cross trainer and a bed so “it should work out”.

The container that attracted the most attention was the one of which you could see the least.

A wall of cardboard boxes met bidders as crate number five was opened but the lot went for £280.

Alan Wilkinson, director at Newport City Signs, said he took the morning off work to visit Newport Auctions and bid for a mystery lot.

He said: “We always watch Storage Wars. My wife said she wanted one to rifle through cardboard boxes so I bought it for her.

“I did have a quick look round the back and could see through a gap that there was a dishwasher and washing machine.

“I took a morning off work and I didn’t want to go back with nothing. It’s a gamble.”

Seasoned auctioneer Mr Collingbourne, who spent two-and-a-half hours at the hammer yesterday, said: "It was quite exciting for me too. I could see the faces of some of them thinking 'I should’ve gone for another tenner'."

Due to its success, Newport Auctions will selling mystery storage container lots each week at their household auction on Thursdays at 11am.