Fred Dibnah's tools and ladders sold at auction

Tools, ladders and a steam engine belonging to the Bolton steeplejack Fred Dibnah have been fetched £64,000 at auction. Fred Dibnah became a household name in the 1970s when he starred in a series of documentaries about steeplejacking and his other passion, steam engines.More than 400 lots were put on sale after the owner of the Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre failed to find a buyer for the legendary steeplejack's former workplace.

The auction in Bolton was attended by more than 200 people. The highest selling lot was a beam engine which fetched £4,000.Two inscribed signs were snapped up for £1,700 each.