FURNITURE store boss Alec Cunningham reckons he can get lots of notes from the old musical instrument which came into his store - pound notes that is.

For he hopes to tune into a small fortune with the violin he hardly gave a second glance when it came with other goods into his second-hand shop in Plumbe Street, Burnley.

It was only when a collector eagerly offered him £150 for the instrument that he decided to take a closer look. And when he saw the words "Antonius Stradivario " and the date 1731, he decided to do some research.

Says Alec, 37, "There are only about 400 surviving Stradivarius violins left in existence and they are worth millions.

"But even good, old copies can bring several thousand pounds and this instrument and bows are identical to the valuable violins I have found in collectors' books,"

Now Alec, a former top amateur boxer, has arranged a trip to major auction house, Sothebys, in London, to have the instrument valued.

"Any worthwhile offer will be music to my ears - but who knows, there could be a small fortune in it for me."

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