London landmarks' street signs up for auction

The signs have been directing tourists since the 1990s

Distinctive street signs which point Londoners and tourists to famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park are to be auctioned.

Estimates for each of the 362 signs range from £20 to more than £1,000.

Also being auctioned are several enamelled road signs, including those for famous London roads such as Abbey Road and Downing Street.

They will be sold at Summers Places Auctions in Billingshurst, West Sussex, on 21 May.

The sell-off comes as Westminster City Council and Transport for London upgrade all of their signposting as part of plans to make directions more user-friendly.

Robert Davis, deputy leader of the Tory-run council, said: "London is home to some of the most famous street signs in the world and buyers now have the chance to acquire a genuine piece of the capital's history."

The sale of the signposts, which were installed during the 1990s, has been described by auctioneers as an "absolute one off".