Antiques Roadshow's Bunny auctions off rabbit collection

Bunny Campione (right) - with Thomas Forrester - started off the sale of her rabbit collection in Newbury

Antiques Roadshow expert Bunny Campione returned to the rostrum for the first time in decades to start the sale of her prized rabbit collection, which sold for about £24,800.

The sale at Special Auction Services in Newbury, Berkshire, included a rare 1906 Steiff wool plush Peter Rabbit, which sold for £7,440.

That was gifted to Campione after it was found in a bin in Athens, Greece, and had been expected to fetch between £4,000 and £6,000.

She said she "thoroughly enjoyed" selling off some of the items and was "thrilled with all the results".

The wool plush was sold to a UK-based private collector. Other highlights included Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, produced by Dean's Rag Book Co., which was sold for £3,224.

It was bought by a Singapore-based collector, who was not put off by minor damage that was caused by Campione's pet rabbit.

Bunny Campione was pictured with her collection ahead of the auction

"I was absolutely delighted to have started the auction off – and although things have changed rather a lot since I was last on the rostrum, I thoroughly enjoyed myself," she said.

"I was thrilled with all the results, particularly my favourite Peter Rabbit, and amazed that the bids were from as far away as Singapore and the United States."

Daniel Agnew, Special Auction Services' toy, doll and teddy bear expert, said the auction was "the most fun I have had in an auction for years".

He added: "Bunny taking the first part of her lots was highly entertaining. We achieved some amazing prices and it was a pleasure to find homes for her collection."