A BOOK autographed by The Beatles has been sold at an auction in Wareham for more than £3,000.

Previously owned by a young fan who met the fab four backstage during a recording of Thank Your Lucky Stars, the scrapbook has now been sent on to an anonymous American bidder who paid £3,200 for it on November 12.

It also contained magazine and newspaper clippings, and several publicity photos and postcards of the group, featuring Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

The winning bidder said: “I have never bid in an auction before, but have loved the Beatles since I was three.

“I will never sell them and intend to leave them to my niece if anything happens to me.”

Before the auction, the un-named owner spoke to the Daily Echo to say that the item had been her ‘pride and joy for many years.’ She added: “A friend gave me a second set of autographs from the official Beatles fan club that were signed by Neil Aspinall, the road manager who died a few years ago.”

It is believed that signed Beatles photographs featuring all four members remain the most sought-after items of the group’s memorabilia and often reach thousands of pounds at auction.

Also sold in the auction was a photo of the Rolling Stones, dating from the early 1960s and signed by all five members, which went under the hammer for £980.

Other items which were sold during the same auction were autographs from Bobby Moore, Mother Teresa and Lord Mountbatten.