Suit worn by Sir Winston Churchill sells for £6,000 at Newbury auction

A selection of Churchill items from one collector went under the hammer at Special Auction Services in August.

Former mayor of Newbury, Margo Payne, snapped up one of the items as a birthday present for her husband, John.

Mrs Payne posted a picture on Twitter saying: "Three great Britons! Number one is my husband! The next is his birthday present a oil on canvas portrait of #Churchill"

The third 'great Briton' pictured is TV antiques expert and director of SAS Thomas Forrester.

It was the first of two auctions, in which more than 3,000 items of Churchill memorabilia amassed by private collector Keith Routledge went up for sale.

Mr Routledge, a carpenter by from Enfield, London, was born after the Second World War in 1956, but during his lifetime he became fascinated by the strategic aspect of war.

Militaria, Collectables and Antiques expert at SAS, Adam Inglut, said: "He didn't purchase his first piece of memorabilia until the 1990s, but over the next 25 years he added to his collection and he eventually amassed more than 3,000 pieces."

The highlight of the first sale was the Churchill suit, which sold for £6,000.

But there were also bargains to be had. Some of the china figurines went for around £100.

The second auction of Churchill memorabilia will be held in November.