Battle of Trafalgar log auctioned

The auction had generated international interest

A ship's log describing the Battle of Trafalgar and Lord Nelson's death has been sold at auction to a private collector from the US for £7,800.

The 200-year-old document belonged to an elderly woman from Leicester who had kept it in a chest of drawers.

Derbyshire-based auctioneer Charles Hanson said the log from the HMS Belleisle was of "social, historical and maritime importance".

The auction had generated international interest from individuals and museums.

Mr Hanson said his firm was "delighted" at the amount the log had fetched, which was more than expected.

"We hope that somehow the American client will make it possible for the document to be published as an archive so that people can see it," he added.