A BEATLES concert programme signed by the Fab Four when they performed in Worcester more than 40 years ago is expected to fetch up to £6,000 when it is auctioned tomorrow.

The illustrated souvenir up for grabs at Christie's in London was signed by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr on September 4, 1963 when they performed at the Gaumont Cinema in Foregate Street.

The estimated sale price is 24 times more than the £250 they were paid for the performance.

The year it was signed was a particularly exciting and important for the Beatles because that was the year the band achieved their first number one record Please Please Me.

From there, The Beatles went on to conquer the world and became international superstars.

The Worcester programme is also especially valuable because it is signed by all four Beatles.

But neither the name of the Worcester fan who persuaded the Beatles to sign the concert programme - nor the name of the person now selling the memento - is being revealed by Christies.

The Beatles must have liked Worcester because they appeared at the Gaumont twice in 1963 - first on Tuesday, May 28, when they had just reached number one with From Me To You. On September 12, 1963 - the week after their second visit to Worcester - The Beatles reached number one again with She Loves You, by which time the whole country was gripped by Beatle-mania.

The Beatles completed a hat-trick of number one hits later that year with I Want To Hold Your Hand.

l If you were at any of The Beatles Worcester concerts, or have any memorabilia from these shows the Worcester News would like to hear from you. Please call the newsdesk on 01905 742244, or e-mail wenedit@thisisworcester.co.uk