A pair of turn-of-the-century vases left at a charity shop have sold for more than £5,000.

The Moorcroft 'Made for Liberty and Co' vases were dropped off at Worthing's Marie Curie Cancer Care shop in a box full of other items.

Area manager June Hart said: "They were just handed in over the counter, they weren't wrapped up or anything. I'm quite good at spotting things now and when I saw the name Moorcroft I knew they'd be worth something, but I wasn't expecting this much!"

June called Partridge Green-based auctioneers Rupert Toovey, whom she had dealt with in the past. Valuer Thomas Rowsell said: "They are fairly unusual and to find a pair which are also in perfect condition is very rare.

The blue and green vases were made between 1903 and 1913 and had a reserve price of £1,500 to £2,000. But when the vases went under the hammer yesterday they sold for £5,300.

Mr Rowsell said: "They went to a private collector in Horsham who said he would not be selling them on in his lifetime. We auctioned them with no commission which we do for many charities."

June said: "I'm so grateful to Rupert Toovey and all the money they've raised for the charity during the past five years. About three years ago, someone donated some Chinese figures which were valued at a couple of hundred pounds but which sold for £2,500."

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