A YORKSHIRE auction house is optimistic about the year ahead, after experiencing record-breaking attendance figures at its first sale of the year.

Despite the current problems on the high street, Tennants Auctioneers’ sale of Toys Models and Comics realised a grand total of £107,000, with around 700 lots attracting record numbers of viewers in the days leading up to the sale.

On the day itself, January 3, more than 200 people turned up at the company’s saleroom in Leyburn in North Yorkshire and were joined by numerous internet and telephone bidders from the US, Canada, Dubai and Europe.

A Lehmann tinplate clockwork cat in its original box from the early 1900s was the highlight of the buoyant toy section realising £1300.

Other categories boasting strong prices included model trains, lead soldiers, live steam engines and Diecast vehicles, with a Dinky Racing Cars Gift Set making £700.