Mitchells of Cockermouth is celebrating a sporting sale record.

The company totalled sales of well over £50,000 – £15,000 higher than their previous sporting sale record, at an auction last Saturday.

Auctioneer James Moore said: “The success was down to a combination of the high quality of lots being sold and a great turnout of bidders on the day, not only in the saleroom but also online and on the telephone”.

The highest selling lot of the day with a hammer price of £5,200 was Mallochs of Perth weighing over 48 pounds which is on its way back to Scotland. The salmon was eventually bought over the telephone after a battle between two people in the room and three telephone bidders, the high degree of interest pushing the hammer price way beyond the £1,800 to £2,000 estimate.

The second most valuable lot in the sale was a Fredrica Besley 12 bore side by side sidelock shotgun which sold for £4,300 to a local man. The gun was built in 1906 and was sold with its original leather, oak and brass cornered case.

Other valuable guns included Lot 54 a Beretta 687 EELL 12 bore shotgun sold for £2,500 and a Cogswell and Harrison 16 bore side by side Victor back action shotgun with Damascus barrels with case which sold for £1,200.

An early 20th Century air pistol estimated at £30 to £50 due to its poor condition but actually sold for £170 after a flurry of internet bidding.

Local interest in the sale included a set of hunt buttons from “Mrs M Lawson’s Beagles” of Brayton Hall Aspatria which sold for £200.

The next sporting sale will be October 7. Entries must be in by Friday, August 25.