A BUSINESSMAN will emigrate an estimated one million pounds richer after auctioning off his vintage car collection.

Ted Lethbridge, 65, disposed of around 70 treasured vehicles so he could start a new life in Esta Pona, Spain.

More than 500 people packed Singleton's Auctioneers, Mill Hill, Blackburn, yesterday afternoon out of curiosity or with serious cash to obtain one of the classic bikes or cars, which included a 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom, thought to be worth half a million pounds.

Ted, who owns Lethbridge Scrap Merchants, in Gorse Street, Blackburn, spent 35 years collecting and has sold all but three treasured vehicles he has already shipped to Spain.

Mr Lethbridge said he was unconcerned how much money the auction would bring, and that he was just looking forward to living with his wife and daughter in Spain.

Some of the other cars on sale included a Porsche 911 Targa from the '70s, three Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, a Bristol 407, six MGBs from 1965 and onwards, a Jensen Interceptor, an Alfa Romeo Spider, an Alfa Romeo celebrity race car number 10, a Van Diemen, a Jaguar Coupe B12, a Mercedes 500 SL, a Bentley R Type, a Rolls-Royce Camargue, a 1937 Fiat Topolino (Little Mouse) BBC 765.