A COLLECTION of postcard-sized watercolours by twin local artists exceeded all expectations when they came under the hammer in Newcastle this week.

The eight studies of animal and farming scenes by Elizabeth and Dorothy Alderson, who were born at Neasham, near Darlington in 1900, were expected to fetch between £80 and £120 each.

But the collection realised £6,450 at the sale held by auctioneers Anderson and Garland on Tuesday.

The highest price fell to a picture of two bullocks, illustrated in the D&S Times on June 7.

John Anderson, the firm's picture specialist, said: "The interest in the tiny watercolours by the sisters was enormous.

"Although many of the bidders came from the Darlington and Stockton areas, it was a southern-based collector who bought the top seller, at £1,380, as well as two others at £897 and £713 respectively."

A spokesman for the auctioneers said the unnamed buyer came from Teesside but moved to Hertfordshire 18 years ago.

He added: "He still has the D&S Times mailed to him and, despite the copy containing the story about the watercolours arriving late, he dashed up to Newcastle to buy them unseen."

He said he believed the new owner intended to return to live in his native North-East in the next few weeks.