A HUGE collection of controversial gollie memorabilia featuring some unique pieces is to go under the hammer in Bromyard next week.

Birmingham Auctions has been instructed to sell the items, which include a special prisoner gollie wearing a swag suit, made as a one-off by the now closed Merry Thought factory in Ironbridge.

It is a limited edition doll commissioned following an incident at a toy shop in Bromyard when three gollies were seized by police because of a complaint that they were racially offensive. Crowds of protestors campaigned to Free The Bromyard Three after the incident in Pettifer's toy shop in High Street two years ago.

Barry Faulkner, from the auction house in Bromyard, said a local collector, who did not want to be named, had decided to sell the items. "It is an incredible collection," he said. "He had collected them all his life and there are limited editions and some very rare pieces."

The auction comes after a recent furore over the sale of gollies at a Worcester shop, which was reported by your Worcester News. More than 20 people backed the owner of Rhubarb in CrownGate, who vowed to continue selling the controversial dolls despite a call for them to be removed because some people may have found them racially offensive.

Up to 400 items will go under the hammer at the auction, which will be sold in 45 lots. They are expected to fetch between £3,000 to £4,000 in total.

"Some of the pieces go back to 1900, including Florence Upton china pieces, through to a selection of Robertson's figures," Mr Faulkner said. Mr Faulkner said the collection was already attracting huge interest from potential buyers. "I didn't realise how fanatical people are about gollies," he said.

He said a porcelain golfing gollie was estimated to reach more than £100, and a china gollie in a car could also exceed £100.

The auction will take place at the Falcon Hotel in Bromyard from 7pm on Tuesday. For information contact Birmingham Auctions on 01885 488871.