A BENTLEY which started life in East Lancashire before being owned by film star Dudley Moore is to be sold in an auction this weekend.

When Alec Higham, of Accrington, took charge of the S3 Continental in 1963 it would have cost around £9,000 -- roughly the price of three average homes at the time.

But that would not have flinched the textile-tycoon, who went on to become chairman, and eventually director, of the Accrington-based Higham group -- Britain's biggest manufacturer of sheets and blankets at that time.

He became one of the youngest councillors in Accrington at the time, at the age of 24.

And while other cars go down in value over the years, the Bentley -- thanks in no small part to its celebrity owner -- has actually increased.

When Christie's put it under the hammer this Saturday at New York's Rockefeller Centre it is expected to realise more than £42,000.

The money raised at the sale will be split between two charities -- Music For All Seasons and The Dudley Moore Research Fund for PSP.

The diminutive star announced his battle against Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in 1999.

He died in March after being struck down with pneumonia which was a complication of the brain condition, aged 66. Months before his death he decided to auction the car for charity.

The top-of-the-range V8 engined Bentley, which is cream with a green leather upholstery, would have cut a dashing site in an early 1960s Accrington.

It stayed in the town for three years before being sold on to a Mr Wheeler of London in 1966.

The actual date of when Dudley Moore took ownership of the car is unknown but it is believed he had it exported to America in the mid 70s when the 'Arthur' star was living in Los Angeles. Certainly by the mid 80s he and the car became a familiar sight on the streets of LA.

Initially the car was registered 919 YEE although Dudley changed it to TNDRLY -- which it still has.