A mystery bidder has paid thousands of pounds to become lord of the manor at an auction.

Bidders fought it out for the title of the Lordship of Ripe when it went under the hammer at Ironmongers' Hall, in the Barbican, London.

Bids surpassed the reserve price in an auction of 41 titles which fetched nearly half a million pounds.

The Sussex title went to a mystery bidder for £9,000.

The newly-ennobled Lord, who joins the likes of former boxer Chris Eubank, will be able to apply for a personal coat of arms which can be handed down to the next generation.

They will be able to add their title to their name, and change their passport, driving licence and credit cards accordingly for that touch of class.

James Del Mar, of Strutt and Parker, who auctioned the title, said: "The popularity of being such titles has hugely increased in the last 30 years. Clients, mainly male, range from those who live in a manor house already to those who have links with the title. We also have a lot of foreign interest."

"Bidders are attracted to the status, history, uniqueness and some buy it as an investment. They are now often fetching more than £15,000 more than the reserve prices. That is the main reason for owners selling them."

Records trace the Lordship back more than 1,000 years and show it has descended in the Pelham family since 1648 and was held by the Earl of Chichester until 1997.