A PRE-WAR Dinky Sharps Toffee van with the word Maidstone on its side has fetched £1,410 at a Christies auction. The van, which is black and red with yellow wheels and gold transfers, had been estimated to make between £700 and £1,000.

The Dinky toy was part of what Christies staff described as the finest collection of Dinky Toy Cars ever seen at auction.

More than 3,000 pieces were in the collection owned by Belgian Jean-Vital Remy-Meeus.

More items from his collection will be auctioned later this year. In total, the Dinky cars are expected to make more than £300,000.

The Maidstone van was probably made for Sharps, later bought out by Trebor Bassett and finally sold to Cadbury Schweppes two years ago.