The annual Buxton Antiques Fair will feature over 50 leading dealers showing a huge range of top quality antiques and objets d'art.

These will include exhibits from furniture, arts and crafts, ceramics, clocks and barometers, glassware, jewellery, maps and prints, miniatures, paintings and watercolours, sculpture and silver.

All items are vetted by a highly experienced vetting committee and allocated within specific datelines.

The highlight of the Buxton Antiques Fair is the prestigious VIP Evening on Wednesday May 14, from 6.30pm to 9pm, when the event will be opened by Lord Ralph Kerr DL, High Sheriff of Derbyshire.

Helen Thewlis, Managing Director of organisers Trident Exhibitions, said: "I consider this to be a great honour that Lord Ralph has agreed to open the Buxton Antiques Fair, which has become an annual highlight of the Derbyshire calendar. I wish him, and his wife Marie-Claire, all the very best in his year as High Sheriff of Derbyshire."

Lord Ralph was born in Scotland and is the younger brother of the 13th Marquis of Lothian. He was educated at Ampleforth College and is the Derbyshire representative for Sotheby's.

Lord Ralph's wife, Marie-Claire is a well known artist and portrait painter and they live at Melbourne Hall with their six children.

Lord Ralph became High Sheriff of Derbyshire in April this year and is looking forward to his year in office.

Also present at the VIP Evening will be new High Peak Mayor and Mayoress, Councillors Robin and Linda Baldry.

The Derbyshire Red Cross will once again be the beneficiary of the Fair and will receive their donation at the VIP Evening.

The Buxton Antiques Fair will be open from 11am-5pm on Wednesday May 14, 11am-6pm on Thursday May 15, Friday May 16 and Saturday May 17, and 11am-5pm on Sunday May 18.

For further details, or to request tickets, visit www.buxtonantiquesfair.com or call 01822 614671.