A TUTU worn by legendary ballerina Dame Alicia Markova sold for £2,600 when it went under the hammer in Stourbridge.

The stage outfit worn by Dame Markova, when she danced as Odette from Swan Lake with the Sadler’s Wells Ballet at Covent Garden in 1948, was sold at Fieldings Auctioners’ latest fine art, antique and collectables sale on Saturday (April 2).

The cream satin embellished tutu bearing the dancer’s name on the waistband was put up for sale along with a collection of her personal items and effects including clothing, travelling trunks, awards and books.

Auctioneer Alison Snowdon said: "The room was full of followers of Markova. People had travelled from far and wide because they knew her and wanted to buy something that belonged to her. It was quite an electric environment but the tutu went to an internet bidder."

She said the outfit had been given to vendor in 1959 while she was working in the wardrobe department at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Best remembered for her role as Giselle, Markova co-founded and danced with the English National Ballet (previously known as the Festival Ballet) and was the first British-born ballerina to become an international star.

Considered one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of the 20th century – she retired from professional dancing in 1963 and died in 2004 at the age of 94.