A member of the Churchill family smashed the reserve price on a gun which helped save Sir Winston's life.

The revolver, which he used during an escape in the Boer War, was sold for £32,000 yesterday at Lewes auction house Wallis & Wallis.

This was more than double the reserve price for the six-shot pinfire revolver.

Roy Butler, senior partner at the auction house, said: "I was surprised. I knew we could get our reserve of £15,000 and perhaps a little more but I did not dream it would go for that figure."

He said a man at the auction managed to fend off a rival telephone bid for the gun.

Mr Butler said: "When he said he was a member of the family, everybody in the room clapped."

The young Churchill was serving in the 4th Hussars and working as a war correspondent in South Africa in 1899 when he borrowed the gun from British homesteader John Howard.

After seeking shelter with Howard, Churchill was sent on his way with a basket of food and the gun. He sneaked on to a train and escaped over the border.

Two years later, he returned the revolver with a glass brandy flask and fitted silver cup.