A CAR built in Malvern in 1887 sold for £146,750 when it was auctioned by Christie's in London this week.

The Santler Dogcart, believed to have been Britain's first petrol-driven car, was expected to sell for £50,000 to £80,000 when it went under the hammer in an Exceptional Motor Cars auction on Tuesday (December 4).

But a frantic bidding drove the price considerably above the estimate.

Rupert Banner, of Christie's, described the result as "phenomenal". He said the buyer had requested anonymity but that the car was likely to remain in the UK. It was built by brothers Charles and Walter Santler, who ran a light engineering and bicycle- making company in Malvern.