Beatles' meal leads to auction haul

Beatles memorabilia is highly attractive to pop collectors

A chance visit by The Beatles to an Essex restaurant 40 years ago has made over £5,000 for the chef who served them.

Derek Driver was working at Le Talbooth in Dedham when the group called in for lunch.

The Beatles were en route to London to record the single She Loves You.

Now, pictures and memorabilia left by the group at the restaurant have been sold at auction at Christies.

Mr Driver said he was amazed by how much the photos were worth, but that was not why he took them.

"That wasn't the reason at the time, obviously - it wasn't an investment.

"It was just that we were Beatles fans, as well as the rest of the world, I guess.

"That's just one of those things you do when you're 22; you collect photographs and autographs and things."

Mr Driver said that he believes that some of the memorabilia is on its way to America after transatlantic phone bids came in during the auction.