An army of almost 1,000 tinplate and plastic robots, flying saucers and rockets has fetched £46,000 in one of the biggest auctions of its kind.

Toy specialist auctioneers Vectis from Thornaby, Teesside, sold the collection which had been lovingly built up over 40 years by a couple from the North East.

Top item was a rare six-inch 1939 Japanese Lilliput Robot which sold for £2,280 despite not having its original hands.

A Vectis spokeswoman said: "Interest in the collection was evident right from the start with many buyers turning up in the auction room, or booking telephone bids, but it was the internet that saw the most action.

"Bids were coming thick and fast from across Europe and the USA, with many bids coming from right here in the UK."

Buyers spent £46,000, including fees, on the sale which went on into the late afternoon on Tuesday.