'Bizarre' treasures to be sold at Frome auction

A 2,500-piece collection that includes Egyptian lizard coffins is going to be sold at auction.

Dore & Rees auctioneers in Frome are selling George Withers' collection of "incredibly bizarre world treasures".

Specialists took a month to clear his home in Bath, finding silver under the floor and vinaigrettes in the cooker.

"He was such an eclectic collector, that has been one of the joys of cataloguing the collection," consultant specialist Marc Allum said.

The lizard coffins date to around 500BC and are expected to sell beyond their estimate of £150-£200.

"They would have contained little mummified lizards used in ritual offerings," Mr Allum explained.

The collection goes under the hammer from 21-23 February.