Half a century collecting toys pays off with €315k

A collection of 3,000 toy cars, trucks, and trains which was built up over 50 years has been sold at auction for £227,000 (€315,000).

Retired car dealer Raymond Hainsworth, 78, did not expect to make a fortune on the sale as he has paid top prices for the highest quality toys that included Dinky, Hornby, and Tri-ang that were not “play worn”.

Andrew Reed of Vectis Auctions in Thornaby, Teesside, said he thought more than half of the 2,000 lots that were sold over three days would now go abroad.