Brisk bidding pushes up auction price of binoculars and telescope formerly owned by Eric Morecambe

In demand - Eric Morecambe's trusty binoculars and case

THE pair of binoculars used  by the late Eric Morecambe for watching birds sold for £750 at a weekend auction  of the comedian's effects.

Brisk bidding took the price way higher than the pre-sale estimate of between £30 and £50.

By today's standards, the bins are nothing special.

They were manufactured by Deraisme of Paris - a brand unfamiliar to most contemporary birders, at least those in the UK.

They were sold in the same lot as their case and two photographs of him looking through them.

The late comedian's 1970s telescope also exceeded expectations, achieving a price of £300 against a pre-sale estimate of between £50 and £70.

Less spectacularly, the hammer came down at £130 for his collection of birds books. This was is in line with the guide price of  £100 and £150.

Included with them was a four-page handwritten letter written to him by  fellow comedian-birdwatcher, Bill Oddie.

The sale was conducted by Hansons Auctioneers over two days, January 10-11.

The French-made binoculars

Above and below, the 1970s telescope

Eric Morecambe's ornithological collection included a copy of The Observer's Book of Birds