ITEMS ranging from a Victorian desk to a cardboard cutout picture of Bolton boxing hero Amir Khan went under the hammer at Bolton Methodist Mission.

The Mission, at Victoria Hall, held an auction of unwanted items before it undergoes refurbishment as part of the £100 million Central Street redevelopment.

Minister, the Rev Phil Mason, said: "The Mission had built up quite a collection of antique and interesting pieces which had been donated to the church over the years.

"We needed a good old clean-out to make way for the building work, and realised that some of the things we had been given had been with us so long that they were now worth a fair bit."

Keenest bidding on the day was for an Amberg's patent letter file - an impressive wooden letter bureau dating back to Victorian times - which raised £300, while a chaise longue sold for more than £100 and the signed cut-out portrait of Amir Khan went for £30. In total the auction raised £1,077.

Work on the Central Street scheme is due to begin in 2009.

A new shopping, leisure and apartments development is to be built around a revamped Victoria Hall. Mission bosses hope to keep the building open throughout the transformation.

The Mission is still willing to accept bids for some items which did not sell on the day.