A 20ct gold box smashed its estimated price at an auction of items owned by a former Blackburn antiques dealer when it realised more than £40,000.

The Irish Freedom Box, which was presented to the city of Cork in 1882, was expected to sell for between £8,000 -- £12,000 at Sothebys. Yesterday it sold for £40,250.

The three-day auction of 237 items which belonged to Joe Marshall, of Whalley Range, until his death in August last year concludes tomorrow.