THE contents of a Dorset country house which have not been touched in 60 years are being sold in a two day auction next month.

All items in the house, which is near Shaftesbury, are in a "market fresh" condition and will be sold by Charterhouse Auctioneers on Thursday, May 6 as a single owner collection.

Charterhouse was asked by relatives to help clear the property after a family member passed away.

Every room was filled with Georgian furniture, a portrait and other paintings, along with miniatures, naïve art, ceramics including an extensive collection of Victorian pottery nursery plates, metalwares, shells and cabinets of curios with minerals, seals and other collector’s items.

Outside the property, the auctioneers discovered an ancient shepherd hut, garden urns and ornaments, all of which are also included in the auction.

Richard Bromell, of Charterhouse, said: "Whilst we continued to be busy during lockdown we are all really looking forward to welcoming clients back to our salerooms.

"Although our auctions have been held successfully online during the lockdown, and no doubt some will change the way they buy at auction relying wholly on armchair bidding, there is still a large community of buyers who love nothing more than to walk around our salerooms looking, seeing, smelling and handling all the lovely lots before they bid on them."