War pictures fetch double Real Deal bid

A Shropshire pensioner who turned down £120 from dealers on TV's Dickinson's Real Deal for rare pictures from the trenches in World War One more than doubled his money at auction yesterday.

Captain Gordon Murr, vice-chairman of Hadley and Leegomery Royal British Legion in Telford, banked £260 for the 100 stereoscope pictures, which he inherited after his mother Ethel McCarthy died last year.

Auctioneers Brettells of Newport revealed the collection had been sold to an anonymous individual from Wem.

The 65-year-old had pledged to donate whatever money he raised to the Legion - and the organisation will get the whole amount after Brettells waived the usual fees and charges.

The collection includes pictures of Allied forces interrogating "Jerry" soldiers, a shot of the then Prince of Wales, later abdicating King Edward VIII, and various planes, tanks and other war craft of the day.

Captain Murr decided to take them along to filming of Dickinson's Real Deal, hosted by perma-tanned presenter David Dickinson, when the show rolled into Shrewsbury last month to see what they were worth.

On the programme members of the public are invited to take in treasures, where guest dealers will make cash offers for them.

People then have the choice to either accept the money on offer or take the items to auction in the hope of getting a better deal.

Dealers offered him £120 for the pictures - but on Dickinson's advice he decided to take them to auction. Captain Murr, who lives in Leegomery, said: "I am delighted, it has been a fantastic day."