The world's largest collection of toy soldiers is to be auctioned after all 250,000 were found in British collector's garage.
The quarter-of-a million military figures belonged to a man who died of leukaemia aged just 55.
Carmelo Mazzotta began collecting toy soldiers as a boy and dedicated his life to them.
The collection, some of which was displayed in their individual regiments in the garage, is understood to be the biggest in the world ever to go to auction.
The tiny figures are made out of a variety of materials, including lead, metal and plastic.
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Bosses at the auction house even had to extend the showroom – by clearing out areas currently used for storage – to house and display the vast and unusual collection.
As well as the soldiers and their military accessories, the collection also includes a range of die cast model planes that were hanging from the garage.
The collection, which is now being catalogued into between 200 and 300 individual lots by auction house staff, is expected to sell for in excess of £10.00 GBP, 000 at auction.
Wessex Auction Rooms is a specialist in toys and holds five of the auctions each year. It's toy department is headed up by BBC Bargain Hunt expert Tim Weeks.
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