THE Beatles made Blackburn famous for its 4,000 holes in their hit A Day in the Life.

But there's another connection between the town and the pop legends.

A stretch limo once owned by drummer Ringo Starr is to be sold at Sotherby's by its owner, Derek Barnes, son of the Blackburn property dealer Derek Snr.

Beatles fan Derek bought the 20-foot Mercedes Benz 600 Pullman several years ago as a collector's item. It is expected to make at least £40,000 in a Sotherby's sale on December 11.

Derek said: "The car is in storage and needs to be well cared for. Friends have told me that Ringo knows it's about to be auctioned."

The 6.3 litre vehicle is one of 428 made and when Ringo bought it in 1968 he paid an astonishing £80,000.

A television, stereo, cocktail cabinet, hydraulic back seat and chauffeur's partition are just a few of the extras.

Derek's copy of the registration document, to be sold with the car, still bears Ringo's real name Richard Starkey, and the Berkshire address Tittenhurst Park where he lived at the height of Beatlemania.

Derek added: "Although I bought the car for its style and history, I've also had a drive in it and it was a fantastic experience. The car is beautifully engineered and in excellent condition."

Sotherby's Martin Chisholm said: "The impeccable Beatles provenance attached to this car makes it all the more spectacular."

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