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Pic: DominicWinter/BNPS

A rare set of 18th century Chinese panels have sold for over £80,000 after sparking a bidding war - 160 times their estimate.

The group of four porcelain panels which would have been incorporated into a dressing screen were initially tipped to fetch £500.

But a surge of interest from Chinese collectors ahead of the sale prompted auctioneers Dominic Winter, of Cirencester, Gloucs, to start bidding on the day at £3,000.

However, bids quickly rose to £20,000 and the hammer finally went down at £65,000, with extra fees taking the final sum paid by the Chinese buyer to £80,600.