A wooden bomb sight thought to be the only surviving example of those used during the Dambusters' daring raid on Nazi Germany has sold at auction for £41,500.

The mahogany fixture was among a series of items connected to the famous 1943 bombing run which fetched a total of £75,000 when they went under the gavel yesterday.

The aim sight, which had been expected to fetch £25,000, was up for sale alongside a map light and a parallelogram which all saw use on a Lancaster bomber which breached the Mohne dam.

Auctioneer Jonathan Humbert said there had been huge global interest in the unique memorabilia.

Also among the lots was a set of marbles used by the inventor Barnes Wallis to test the feasibility of the bouncing bomb, which went for £27,200.

The map light and parallelogram fetched £5,350 in total, during the auction at Towcester, Northamptonshire.

Mr Humbert said: "The overwhelming interest we have had in these items is testament to the bravery and heroism of the the men who risked their lives in Operation Chastise.

"These historical items, much like the story of the Dambusters, have really captured the imagination and I am delighted that the auction has met with such resounding success."

The items were all sold to private buyers.