JP Humbert Auctioneers held a three-day auction last week to end a five-year stint at its salesroom in Burcote Road, Towcester, before moving to new premises in the Silverstone Business Park.

Among the lots were a vintage 1931 AJS 350cc motorcycle in mint condition, which sold for £3,500, and a 1978 Rolls Royce Wraith II, which went to a bidder from London for £7,800.

The top seller was a 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, serviced by Broughtons of Cheltenham with the registration 186 HRH, which fetched £21,000 with an anonymous bid.

Jonathan Humbert, who also snapped up a copy of the Northampton Daily Chronicle from May 30, 1931, said: "I'm delighted to have a really good sale and we got some very good hammer prices. The motorbike is going to France and the Rolls Royce is going to London.

"I'm really thrilled because everything we thought would sell well has sold well and we had a 92 per cent clearance rate, which is superb.

"Across the board things are slowing down but clearly items are still selling for what they're worth. A lot of people have been cashing items in."

The auctioneers will be re-opening at a new unit in Whittlebury Road from September after selling just over £2.2 million worth of items to 3,500 customers in its five years in Towcester.

Mr Humbert said: "I've got mixed emotions. People have been very good to support us and we're the last auctioneers in the county."

He added: "We'd welcome anyone who finds something interesting in their house to get in touch and we'll try to value it."

More information about the relocation of JP Humberts is available online at www.jphumbertauctioneers.com.