Superlambananas sold at auction

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The Superlambanana auction raised more than half a million pounds

About £550,000 has been raised from the auction of 70 of Liverpool's superlambananas at St George's Hall.

Three of them were sold for more than £20,000 and 12 went for more than £10,000 each.

A large proportion of the money - about £400,000 - is going to the Lord Mayor's charities. It is the most money ever raised by a mayor in the UK.

About 40,000 people went to see the sculptures on display at St George's Plateau over the past two days.

The remaining £150,000 raised will pay for the cost of the auction and to organisers Wild in Art for the cost of the 10-week exhibition.

Former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish donated a superlambanana at the end of the auction.

About 125 of the Superlambananas were placed around the city

The sculpture, which had his shirt number seven on and was autographed, was sold for £10,000.

Craig Phillips, the TV handyman and winner of the first Big Brother, bought a superlambanana dressed in builder's clothes for £10,000.

Liverpool Culture Company artistic director Phil Redmond bought four, one of which is being donated to National Museums Liverpool.

The sculpture that fetched the highest price was Mandy - based on the mandala symbol of hope and unity. It sold for £25,000.

More than 100 replicas of the original Superlambanana by Japanese artist Taro Cheizo were made for the city's Capital of Culture year.

They were decorated by artists, local schools and community groups and put in different locations around the region for 10 weeks over the summer.

A further 34 superlambananas will be auctioned online next Tuesday.