ANTIQUES earmarked for the Museum of Liverpool could be sold before they take up their place in the new multimillion pound visitor attraction.

The pair of silver trays weighing 34lbs (15kilograms), which tell how Liverpool’s banking industry avoided disaster during the global financial crash of 1830, are a unique part of the city’s heritage.

They were brought to the city by an anonymous Liverpool businessman in 2008 who then gave them to National Museums Liverpool on long-term loan.

But he is now putting the trays up for sale again – just as they are ready to take pride of place in the global city gallery when the Museum of Liverpool opens on July 19.

Lynda Jackson, co-ordinator of the global city gallery, said their loss would be a blow to the city.

One tray is inscribed to manager Joseph Langton, whose family had a dock named after it, and the other to Thomas Smith Esq. Both were credited with helping the Bank of Liverpool, which went on to become Barclays, through the financial turmoil of the 1830s when on May 10 every bank in New York stopped payment in gold and silver coinage.

ENQUIRIES to agent Paul Carr, on 07748 906692.