FANS of the British film star, Margaret Lockwood, were drawn to Crewkerne, where a number of items of her jewellery were auctioned off.

Seven pieces belonging to the 1940s star went under the hammer at Lawrences Auctioneers in Crewkerne, attracting extra attention to the sale.

The main items were a sapphire and diamond cluster ring and a matching bracelet, which went for £480 and £920 respectively – much more than the reserve.

Miranda Bingham, a specialist in jewellery at Lawrences, said: "I think a lot of people were very interested because Margaret Lockwood has a great fan club.

"I think that's why the pieces went so well – even better than we expected.”

Margaret Lockwood shot to fame in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1938 thriller The Lady Vanishes and gave perhaps her best-remembered performances in period dramas The Man in Grey and The Wicked Lady.

Daughter Julia was also an actress and moved to Somerset to bring up her four children with her husband and fellow thespian Ernest Clark.

She said: “My granddaughter, Martha, represented the family at the auction and texted me as each lot came up to let me know how it was going. It was great fun and very exciting.

“It was nice to see how much interest there was - both at the auction and on the phones - it was a lovely reminder of how well-loved my mother was.

“The jewellery has just been in a big box under my bed for many years, and the kids used to dip into it, but eventually I thought it was time to see how much they would go for as times are quite hard. We were very pleased with the result.

“It wasn't too sad to see it all go - we have a lot more sentimental items which we will never get rid of, such as her British Academy Awards.”

Martha, 16, added: "It was very strange to see it all go but it is nice to think people have bought it who can appreciate it.”