A recent country sporting sale conducted by Mitchells counted sporting guns, including a Purdey shotgun and a range of flintlock pistols, among the auction's highest-selling lots.

The most valuable item in the sale was a James Purdey & Sons 12-bore side-by-side sidelock ejector shotgun, which sold for £5,200.

A British Long Sea Service pistol, marked 'Tower GR' with a crown, fetched £2,100 among a large collection of quality flintlock pistols.

Meanwhile, an outdoor garden table with an oak top and metal base, featuring silhouettes of a man with a shotgun and a dog, made £550 - and a World War II sniper scope for the Lee Enfield rifle fetched £520.

Among the sporting art, a watercolour gouache by British wildlife artist Nigel Artingstall, titled Highland Red Stag, sold for £800.

A watercolour by Suffolk artist Ben Hoskyns, depicting partridges in flight, sold for £350.

A bronze sculpture of a pair of rutting Red Stags, after Pierre-Jules Mene (1810-1879), made £550, while a Border Fine Arts fell hound with a Lakeland Terrier model sold for £210.

A Tup horn-handled walking stick with carved fox and hounds, presented to Mr Iredale, Master of the Melbreak Foxhounds, from Melbreak Huntsman Harry Hardisty, exceeded its estimate of £70 to £100 and ultimately fetched £250.

Popular fishing lots included a Hardy Demon spinning rod, Sintrix 330 in four sections, which made £300.

Highlights among the taxidermy were a pair of Atlantic Salmon, cast and painted by Peter Scott of Workington, with a naturalistic gravel base, which made £680; and a 1920s Peter Spicer fox mask from Wythop Woods, which sold for £400.

The full illustrated catalogue with prices realised during the sale can be viewed online at www.the-saleroom.com/Mitchells

Entries are now open for Mitchells' next country sporting sale.

Free valuations of items for potential sale can be obtained by contacting James Moore on 01900 827800.

Entries are still open for Mitchells' maritime and transport sale on November 7, and Claire Machin can be contacted for free valuations and entries along a maritime or transport theme.

Mitchells offer free valuations by appointment at their Cockermouth saleroom and home visits by arrangement, including in the South Lakes and Furness.

Valuation requests and photographs can be sent by email to info@mitchellsantiques.co.uk, or Mitchells can be contacted on 01900 827800 to arrange a free valuation.