When a dusty box of old toys was donated to the Oxfam Shop in Ross volunteer Meryl Bedford had a suspicion that the contents might be something special. However, even though she contacted local doll and toy expert, Constance King, she had no idea that Oxfam would receive a cheque for £2000 when the items were sold at auction.

Ms King who works at Brightwells Auctioneers immediately recognised them as very desirable to toy collectors.

She suggested that the Ross shop entered the items in the specialist Doll, Toy and Textiles sale at Brightwells on September 5th where they proved very popular with buyers.

A hand coloured tumbling Jacobs Ladder dating to the mid 19th century sold for £250. A small carved South German wooden doll in a painted cradle, circa 1830, went for £480.

A treen spinning top sold for £70 while a rare wood and porcelain German lady doll made £700 despite a missing leg.

Of great interest to collectors of Christmas items was a pale blue flower decorated cosque inscribed "From Queen Victoria's Party." Paper cosques that contained a gift and a motto were popular before the invention of the Christmas Cracker. The piece sold for £55 to an American collector. A Berlin taper holder and other small items from the same box made £80.

Meryl in particular was delighted that the box of goodies turned out to be of some value. "I brought them home and contacted Constance," she told the Gazette. "It was so exciting when she said that we might have something actually quite precious."

The staff and volunteers at the Oxfam Shop would love to know who donated the items so that they can thank them for their generosity