THE world's largest collection of toys sold in one event is to go under the hammer in the region.

Vectis Auctioneers is to sell nearly 8,000 toys at a mammoth three-day sale in Thornaby, near Stockton, Teesside, next week.

It is expected the sale will raise more than £250,000 for hundreds of sellers around the world.

The most expensive toys on offer include pre-war Dinky cars, including a set of '28 Series' vans, which are expected to sell for between £2,000 and £2,500.

Other toys from the TV shows of the late 1970s and early 1980s such as Magnum PI and Starskey and Hutch - which could have been bought for as little as £2 only ten years ago - are expected to sell for between £50 and £60.

About 2,000 of the toys have come from the collection of a US collector who died recently leaving a collection of more than 80,000 toys.

Andy Reed, who has collated the collection, said: "We used to have smaller sales around the country but these days, with the Internet being so well used by collectors, it makes sense to have one big sale.

"We travel the world collecting toys and we are sure this is the biggest in the world.

"We've got people coming from across the country and from abroad to actually attend the auction and hotels are saying they're selling out rooms, so it's great for the region."

Mr Reed revealed toys are sold to a number of famous people, including members of the England football team.

The auctioneers have brokered several world record sales for toys including the world's most expensive post-war Dinky toy, a £12,000 lorry, last April.

The auction at Thornaby Industrial Park, near Ingleby Barwick, begins on Tuesday, January 27 and finishes on Thursday, January 29. Viewing starts on Monday from 11am to 7pm.

For more information call (01642) 750616.