By Leanne Kirtley: Items belonging to Reginald Mitchell raised more than five times their estimate at auction.

The Reginald Mitchell Statue in Hanley

The 23 pieces belonging to the Stoke-on-Trent-born engineer were originally estimated to raise £15,000, but went for £77,500 when they went under the hammer at Dominic Winters Auctioneers in Gloucestershire.

The biggest surprise came from a miniature of the Schneider Trophy.

Originally priced at £6,000, its finally sold for £27,000.

Interest in the pieces came from buyers in the room as well as phone and internet bidders.

A briefcase bearing Mitchell’s initials and containing his passport went for £15,500, much more than its £300 estimate.

Chris Albury, who helped co-ordinate the auction, told StaffsLive that there had been competition for the lots from all over the world.

But the guests of honour were the sellers themselves, Reginald Mitchell’s surviving family.

Mr Albury added: “The family were here and were beaming from ear to ear.

“To see their grandfather so highly appreciated left them full of emotion. We all thought they were fantastic items!”