Bond's 50th birthday

The swimming trunks worn by Daniel Craig in Bond film Casino Royal have fetched more than £40 000 pounds at a London auction.

The pale blue La Perla shorts were on sale at Christie's Auction House with a guide price of £3000 to £5000, but bids started at £10 000.

Dame Judi Dench, who has played M in recent Bond films, was at the sale and promised bidders that the item was 'unwashed'.

The charity sake marked ten years since Bond hit the big screen. Other big ticket items include the Aston Martin from Quantum of Solace which fetched more than £2041 000 for charity.

Adele's theme for the new Bond film "Skyfall" has shot to the top of the iTunes chart within hours of its release.

The track has displaced Rihanna's "Diamonds" from the top spot, after being released at 0:07 this morning.

The Tottenham-born singer is hotly tipped to become the first artist to get an official Number One with a bond film theme.

Has Adele's new theme tune to the upcoming Bond film "Skyfall" got you itching for some more James Bond action?

Watch the film's full trailer here.

From Daniel Craig's swimming trunks to Pierce Brosnan's boots - costumes, props and posters from all 23 James Bond films are going under the hammer at Christie's later.

The auction features at least one item from every film from "Dr No", which first screened 50 years ago today, to the upcoming movie "Skyfall".

All of the proceeds from the auction will go to charity.

The new James Bond theme for the upcoming film "Skyfall" has been released in full.

The song, by Tottenham-born singer Adele, was launched at 0:07am this morning - on the 50th anniversary of the first screening of "Dr No".

SKYFALL, XL RECORDINGS and SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

It's 50 years to the day since 007, the spy with a licence to kill, first appeared on the silver screen in "Dr No".

To mark the occasion, London auction house Christie's is hosting a sale of James Bond memorabilia, including items from the archives of film company EON Productions and some items donated by cast members themselves.

The lots are expected to fetch between £1,000 and £100,000 when they go under the hammer tonight.