A LEARNER driver has edged closer to buying his first car, thanks to a 1920s German toy bus.

James Isaac, of Littledown, Bournemouth, expected the tin plate bus to fetch around £25 at auction, but it eventually sold for an impressive £1,000 to a top London toy dealer.

The 18-year-old student, who works part-time at a supermarket, took several items to Wareham’s Cottees auction house in a bid to raise funds for a real car.

“I didn’t think they were worth much to be honest,” said James, who is yet to pass his driving test.

“My dad gave them to me years ago when I was a child and they’ve sat in my wardrobe for years.”

But the clockwork Bing pre-war bus, which was included in a lot with James’ 1950s Japanese toy airliner, attracted telephone and internet bids from across the country.

James’ dad David said: “He just wanted to make a bit of money to go towards a car when he passes his test.

“So we took the stuff, an old train, some metal cars, the bus and the plane, to the auction house and was told the train might make £100, and the rest £25.

“The train sold for £60 in the morning, but the other stuff wasn’t really selling.

“There was a break before the bus and the plane came up, so we went for a walk.

“When we walked back in the auctioneer was saying ‘Who will start me at £100?’ “Then it went £150, £200, £250 and kept going up. We couldn’t believe it.

“We just turned to one another – it was like that scene out of Only Fools and Horses.”