Eric Morecambe's trademark glasses sell for £20,000

Morecambe, pictured here in 1979, was instantly recognisable in his distinctive tortoiseshell glasses

A pair of glasses belonging to the comic Eric Morecambe have been sold for £20,000 at auction.

Personal items and showbiz memorabilia from Morecambe's home in Hertfordshire were put up for sale following the death of his widow, Joan, in March 2024.

The glasses were sold along with a Barling briar pipe and two photographs of the comic. Other lots included telegrams from the late Duke of Edinburgh and letters from Margaret Thatcher and fellow comics Ronnie Barker and Tommy Cooper.

The auction comes more than 40 years after Morecambe's death in 1984, and included more than 700 lots.

The star was also known for smoking pipes and a selection of them were sold in a lot that fetched £1,100.

Morecambe was made an OBE in 1976 and his medal, awarded by Queen Elizabeth II, sold for £11,000, which was £8,000 above its highest estimate.

A tailcoat and trousers, writing desk, and Breitling watch were among the other auctioned items previously owned by Morecambe.

The glasses were made Metzler - and can be seen in a picture behind of Morecambe and Wise

Thousands of photographs of Eric Morecambe - including shots of him with his comedy partner Ernie Wise - have been auctioned off

Elsewhere, a personal letter from the then-Prince of Wales fetched £2,500, while a vintage Luton Town Admiral tracksuit with "Eric" stitched on the back sold for £5,500.

Morecambe met comedy partner Ernie Wise in 1940 aged 14 and despite a wartime separation formed the enduring double-act Morecambe and Wise.

They had many lean years touring theatres before they broke into TV and by 1977 their Christmas special was watched by 28 million viewers.

Charles Hanson, of Hanson Auctioneers, said: "We were thrilled with the extraordinary results achieved at this auction.

"Eric Morecambe's legacy lives on in the hearts of millions, and the prices reflect not only the quality and uniqueness of the items but also the deep affection fans continue to hold for him. It's been an incredible two days!"

A costume from one of his BBC shows was also included in the auction