Record amount for artist's work

There was a great deal of interest in the paintings

A painting by one of the north-east of England's favourite artists fetched a record amount at auction.

Three paintings by the Victorian oil painter Ralph Hedley, who was from Newcastle, went under the hammer at Bonhams, in London.

The paintings were put up for sale by La Sagesse School in Newcastle.

One of the works, 'The Tournament' which shows a group of boys having a piggy back fight, sold for £44,000 - a record for a Hedley at auction.

Another painting, 'The Truant's Log' sold for £27,000 but a third failed to sell.

Guy Haskell, valuer for Bonhams in the North East, said there had been a great deal of interest in the paintings.

He said they had been exhibited at the Royal Academy and represented key pieces of his work.

He said: "We are delighted. The figure for 'The Tournament' was a record price for a Hedley at auction."