Coventry Blitz collections auctioned

Unique memorabilia from the Luftwaffe bombing raid that devastated Coventry in World War Two has been auctioned.

The most expensive lot was bought by a bidder from Coventry for £310.

It included an oil painting of Coventry Cathedral on fire, a Luftwaffe map of the city with the Daimler plant highlighted and incendiary bomb fins.

Two more lots, comprised of original newspaper editions on the 1940 raid, were sold to buyers in America and Dubai for £260 and £200 respectively.

The sale took place at the Auction Centre in Etwall, Derbyshire, with one lot - made up of a scrapbook of worldwide newspaper cuttings on the Coventry Blitz compiled in 1941 - failing to attract a buyer.

More on this story and others on Coventry and Warwickshire

It had been hoped the lots would raise £2,000.

Adrian Stevenson, militaria consultant for auctioneers Hansons, said he was pleased to see items telling the story of the raid find new owners.

'I was happy with the worldwide interest in the sale," he said.

"It's nice to know that some of the items are staying in the Coventry area."

The auction comes days after the 75th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz, where lalmost 570 people lost their lives and three-quarters of the city centre was destroyed during an 11-hour operation on 14 November 1940.

About 1,000 people took part in a ceremony to mark the anniversary.