Buyers flock to Barbara Cartland auction

A collection of shocking pink dresses worn by Barbara Cartland have been sold at auction for £13,500.

The sale at Sotheby's also included hats and costume jewellery belonging to Cartland, who died last year at the age of 98.

Buyers snapped up Cartland's glittery beaded dresses including a satin gown with organza cape, a fuschia kaftan and a white beaded lace gown the writer wore on the cover of "Barbara Cartland: a Scrapbook".

One bead-encrusted pink Hartnell gown sold for £540.

A group of 10 hats adorned with silk flowers, tulle, feathers, white mink and white fox, estimated at £300 sold for £1,320.

But Sotheby's was awash in all shades of pink, a colour Cartland said "helps our brain ... helps you to be clever."

A strong believer in traditional notions of femininity, Cartland wore frilly pink dresses and white fox furs and rode in a white Rolls Royce with a turquoise stripe.