Laurel archive sold for £20,000

A picture of Stan Laurel dedicated to his sister Beatrice

Rare photographs and memorabilia of comic legend Stan Laurel have sold at auction in Newcastle for £20,400.

The pictures and documents trace the life and career of the star, who was born in Cumbria.

The collection was sold by Stan Laurel's nephew Huntley Woods, 82, from Blyth, Northumberland, and had been expected to fetch around £5,000.

Mr Woods said he was astounded at the interest and said he was glad the items would now be seen by others.

'Last memory'

Laurel was born in Ulverston, Cumbria, and his sister Beatrice, Mr Woods' mother, was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

The collection, on sale at auctioneers Anderson and Garland on Thursday, included photographs sent to Mr Woods' mother from the US and rare photos of Laurel and Beatrice's father Arthur Jefferson.

Mr Woods said: "The interest has been outstanding and the prices we have achieved are beyond my wildest dreams.

A picture of Stan Laurel and nephew Huntley Woods

"It is sad the collection has been broken up, but it had to be taken out into the wider world for everyone to see."

He said Stan Laurel would always be remembered as a family man.

He said: "He was a nice man, down to earth. My last memory of him would have to be as a man of the people.

"He was a great artist who was also a family man and interested in everything they were doing."

Interest in the collection was so overwhelming that extra staff and telephones were brought in to deal with bids.