An Auction House has recorded its most successful year ever following a series of innovative changes.

1818 Auctioneers, based at the the J36 Rural Auction Centre premises, began to hold weekly sales, offer Saturday viewings and improved its marketing.

The firm’s weekly auctions are split into general and fine art auctions, regularly reaching over 600 lots for the former and 1,000 lots for the latter.

All of the auction house’s lots are available online and now an average of 40 per cent of lots are now bought through the internet, but in certain circumstances it can be as much as 90 per cent.

Global interest in the auction rooms has increased, but local interest has spiked following the decison to host Saturday brunch viewings at the auction house itself.

Saleroom manager, Bill Nelson, said: “2016 has been nothing short of an incredible year.”

“We have offered, and sold, more items than ever before - but we won’t be resting on our laurels.

“Our next steps include improving our website, continuing to attract those looking to sell, and growing our reputation for expertise and customer service.”

The firm has attracted record prices for collections of pens, postcards and vinyl records.

Three respective collections each made at least £25,000 in the last six months and individual lots have also made significant sales.

A tin plate car with a missing wheel recently made £1,200, while an album of postcards depicting great disasters sold for £1,400 and a diamond tennis bracelet made £3,400.