Vintage Land Rovers go under the hammer

A unique collection of rare Land Rovers has gone on display in Staffordshire ahead of an auction that is attracting interest from all around the world.

Land Rover enthusiast John Craddock who owns Land Rover parts specialists John Craddock Ltd saved the collection which had been abandoned in Norway.

The vehicles, which include a 1958 snow-tracked Cuthbertson and Land Rovers adapted as fire engines and ambulances, will be going under the hammer on Sunday.

Mr Craddock said there had been interest from around the world including enthusiasts in the United States, China and Japan.

Among those visiting the site in Girton Road, Cannock, where they are on display was Steven Peters from Florida who hopes to take one of them back with him.

"This is a piece of history that will never happen again. This collection is massive," he said.

Some of the rarest vehicles are expected to go for tens of thousands of pounds when the auction takes place on the display site near Cannock's railway station.

Viewing of the vehicles is available from 8.30am to 5pm each day this week and on the morning of the auction from 10am.

The collection, which includes various Series Ones, were kept at Sandnes near Stavanger in the south-west of Norway.

The collection was amassed over a decade by a Norwegian collector and vehicles came from all over the world.

The authorities seized the vehicles after they were abandoned.

They faced being scrapped until Mr Craddock, who has run his business in North Street, Bridgtown, since 1970, stepped in to buy them and bring them back to the UK.

The auction will starts at 12 noon but live bidding will be available on the auction website 48 hours before with each lot displaying in real time the current bid amount when being auctioned on the day.

Online bids can be made through the website www.auctions.johncraddockltd.co.uk