Bin Laden's Spitting Image goes under the hammer

Puppets of Osama bin Laden, Madonna and Margaret Thatcher were rubbing shoulders as the latex creations from TV's Spitting Image are going under the hammer.

The bin Laden puppet is the first character Roger Law has helped make since the satirical series he worked on ended four years ago.

Money raised from the auction will be donated to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and Afghan refugees.

Madonna is portrayed in her famous Gaultier bra and is joined by other stars from the music world, including John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Bjork, Beethoven and Rolf Harris.

Also up for grabs at the 269-lot auction at Sotheby's, in west London, are puppets of missing Lord Lucan, former US President Richard Nixon and his South African counterpart Nelson Mandela, soap star Joan Collins, boxer Mike Tyson and BBC presenter Jeremy Paxman.

Estimates for puppets range from £20 to £2000, with the entire sale expected to raise about £100,000.

Organisers hinted that some celebrities may try to buy their own caricatures, but would not reveal details before the auction.

A similar Sotheby's sale last year saw 350 puppets raise £370,105.