A SPINE-chilling collection of Hammer Horror film posters have been sold at auction in Purbeck.

The posters, which included some iconic British movies of the 1960s, first came to light at a valuation event organised at Highcliffe Castle for the BBC TV programme Flog It!

While an initial selection of the posters were sold during the summer as part of that BBC show, the remainder went under the hammer at a Cottees Auctions sale in Wareham earlier this month.

The star lot this time around was a fluorescent 1966 Dracula Prince of Darkness poster, which although torn in a couple of places, sold for £920.

Other favourites included a second edition 1960 Mummy poster, which netted £500.

Auctioneer Nell Hilditch said: "We were delighted to deal with such a superb collection. The cinemas used to dispose of the posters when they were finished with them so it is rare to come across such a large collection, and in such good condition."

The collection also included a large selection of lobby card sets and campaign books, including original lobby cards from The Mummy.

A Cottees spokesman said: "A double bill poster from 1966 featuring both Rasputin The Mad Monk and The Reptile attracted interest as it marked the first time the Hammer Film Company branded themselves 'The House of Horror'.

"With competitive bidding both online and in the room the hammer fell at £750."

Cottees are now accepting film posters and memorabilia for a future poster sale at the company's new, larger auction premises in Poole, when they relocate in the New Year.