Rare Yak Face Star Wars figure sells for £2,100

It was among several figures discovered in a loft with their original price labels

A rare Star Wars figure described as the "holy grail" for collectors has sold for more than double the anticipated price at auction.

The Yak Face toy, from the 1983 film Return of the Jedi, had been stored in an attic in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire for 40 years and was found with several other figures.

The camel-faced creature was never officially sold in the US, hence its draw for collectors, and was expected to go for about £1,000 at an auction held by Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire.

It ended up selling for £2,100, with the 15 unopened figures fetching £5,460 in total.

The collection of Star Wars figures, discovered in-box with their original price labels, was put up for sale by the original owner's wife, who said he had not been a collector as such, and did not play with them much.

The R2-D2 figure sold for £520 at the auction

The toys were made by Palitoy in Coalville, Leicestershire in the early 1980s.

The rarest item in the collection was considered to be Yak Face, a character that also featured briefly in Return of the Jedi as a member of Jabba the Hutt's entourage.

Auctioneer and toy expert David Wilson-Turner said: "The figures came from the vendor's husband's collection.

"He didn't collect as such, just toys from his childhood that didn't get played with much. She was delighted with the result."

He said there was international interest but the Yak Face figure went to a collector in England.

The toys went under the hammer in Etwall, Derbyshire on Thursday.