A collection of model statues that played a key role in the Queen's coronation went on sale this week.

The ten plaster miniatures are being sold by the family of the architect responsible for the backdrop to the 1953 ceremony.

Eric Bedford came up with the idea of using mythical beasts as a motif after a visit to Hampton Court Place and commissioned sculptor James Woodford to make ten statues.

Known as the Queen's Beasts, each represents a different branch in the royal family tree. They include The Griffin of Edward III, The Red Dragon of Wales and The Lion of England. All ten stood guard inside the annexe at Westminster Abbey during the coronation.

As well as the full-size versions, Mr Woodford made three miniature sets of "beasts", one of which he kept, one he gave to the Queen and the other he gave to Mr Bedford.

Mr Bedford, who lived in Hanley Swan for 20 years and whose most famous work as an architect was probably the Post Office Tower, passed them on to his daughter, Ann Snow, when he died two years ago.

However, as her children are spread all around the world, Mrs Snow wants to sell them as a set rather than split them between her family.

All ten models were advertised this week for sale on the internet at www.invaluable.com/queensbeasts and put on display at Malvern Theatres. The deadline for written bids is noon today (Friday).

Mrs Snow said she had no idea how much the models would fetch but that she would rather see them go to a good home than make a lot of money out of them.

"I want them to stay a full set," she said. "I want them to go to somebody who has a collection, who is interested in this sort of thing."