A classic Mini pickup truck its farmer owner used to take livestock to market in has been found languishing in a haybarn after more than 30 years.

The 1961 open back vehicle is one of the earliest of its type made and has been owned by the same family since it was bought new by farmer Minnie Gould.

She used it to transport calves to market for many years until she bought a new vehicle and retired the Mini to the barn.

It was given a new lease of life 30 years later by her son Frederick who had it recommissioned and resprayed.

It is now being sold for only the second time in its life with a pre-sale estimate of £13,000.

Although more than 50,000 Mini pickups were manufactured, experts say this is one of the earliest from the production line that survives today.

Mr Gould, 79, from Poole, Dorset, said it will be an emotional day when it sells at auction.

He has promised to give some of the proceeds of the sale to his son William to put towards buying a Volkswagen Transporter vehicle.

Mr Gould said: “My mother had a smallholding and bought the Mini because it was the perfect size to take the odd calf to market in the back of.

“I don't really know why she stopped using it but one day she put it in the haybarn and it remained there for 30 years.

“My mother died in 1978 and we left the farm a few years ago and took the car with us which was when we had it recommissioned.

“It has still got plenty of life left in it and I think somebody could get better use out of it.”

The beige coloured Mini was fitted with optional extras which included a passenger seat, heater and windscreen washer.

It is being sold with its original logbook which still bears the name of Mrs Minnie Gould.

The auction is taking place at the Royal Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet on November 3.