RARE pieces of glass sold for £250,000 at a Stourbridge auction which collectors say has put the sparkle back into the market.

A treasure trove of Stourbridge glass featured in the Centuries of Glass sale, held at Fieldings Auctioneers on Saturday March 8, much of which had been put up for sale by a sole North Devon based collector.

Glass fans from across the globe battled to get their hands on pieces of the collection, which included many rare examples of work by some of the most famous factory names in the glass world.

Auctioneer Will Farmer said: "It was phenomenal. It went really, really well. We had buyers from Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and north America. It was just unbelievably busy."

The top lot of the sale was a late 19th century Chinese inspired blue cameo moon flask, by Thomas Webb & Sons, which sold for just under £19,000 (including commission).

While an eye-catching yellow 19th century Queen's Burmese cameo glass vase, also by Thomas Webb & Sons - and one of only three in the world, went for £16,500 (including sale premium) - nearly three times the guide price issued ahead of the auction.

Mr Farmer said: "There were lots of fights over the big items and locally made glass was the star of the show which was nice to see - as 19th century Stourbridge glass over the last few years has been a little bit sluggish."

He said collectors hailed the sale as having re-invigorated the Stourbridge glass market and he promised "this time next year there'll be another big collection" going under the hammer.