A MINIATURE motorcade will be wheeled out for bargain hunters when 400 transport treasures come under the hammer in a North-East auction room this week.

The prized collection has already generated huge interest among enthusiasts who have been contacting auctioneer Denis Edkins ahead of Thursday's sale.

Mr Edkins estimates that most of the die-cast cars, vans, trams, trains and planes will be snapped up for a few pounds each.

There are James Bond cars and Formula One racers, as well as familiar makes such as Ford Granada, Triumph Dolomite and Morris Traveller, and commemorative models including a silver jubilee London bus.

A silver Auto-Union Type D is a replica of one of Europe's top racing cars from 1938/39 and was hand-made from 663 tiny parts.

All the models came from the shop of Hadrian Models, in Gosforth, north of Newcastle, which was set up eight years ago by Douglas and Susan Atkinson, but which recently went bankrupt.

Mr Edkins said: "They specialised in expensive models and had a flourishing business, both with personal callers and mail order.

"These are not toys. The firm had a reputation for good quality and unusual items and we have had a lot of calls from enthusiasts wanting to know about the sale."

Viewing starts at 9.30am on Thursday in the Auckland Auction Rooms, Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, County Durham. The sale opens at 1pm.