Signed photo of all four Beatles goes under hammer

Chris Barrows, 74, has sold his late brother's autographed photo of the band

Autographs of all four Beatles, collected by a teenage fan in 1963, have been sold at auction.

A photograph of the group – signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, with Starr also writing a personal dedication at the top – went for £1,900.

It was taken before a gig in Coventry at the start of the Beatlemania era, and went under the hammer on Monday with Richard Winterton Auctioneers in Lichfield.

Seller Chris Barrows, 74, said his late brother Phil collected the signatures during a trip out with their father Ron, who was a piano tuner.

"My dad came home one day and said he was going to tune the piano ahead of The Beatles' show and other performances," said Mr Barrows.

"I didn't go as at that time I was more interested in football, but my brother had been playing guitar for six months and went along."

Mr Barrows' late brother Phil, obtained the autographs after meeting the band in Coventry

The Beatles were already there when the pair arrived – and the boys' dad had to ask Ringo to stop playing the drums so he could work.

It gave Mr Barrows' brother, who died in September, the chance to visit the band in their dressing room and even enjoy a quick jam with the stars.

"He played guitar with John Lennon and Paul McCartney and even had a go on Paul's left-handed bass," Mr Barrow said.

He returned with a photo signed by the group, with the personal message: "To Philip best wishes from The Beatles."

The photograph had been valued between £1,500 and £2,000.