Toy enthusiast made it his mission to rescue the toys from failing toys shops or broken stock departments of factories as a child.

 A collection of over 2,000 vintage tin plate toys saved from struggling shops and factories is tipped to fetch thousands of pounds at auction.

The collection belongs to 57 year old toy enthusiast Arthur Findlater who made it his mission to rescue the toys from failing toys shops or broken stock departments of factories as a child.

All made between the 1920s and the 1990s some of the items in the collection – compiled of tin plate robots, vintage boats, Batmobiles and more – are set to sell for as much as £80 each.

Mr Findlater, a retired toymaker himself, decided to let go of his collection, gathered from all across the globe, in one of Cotswold Auctions’ biggest ever sales after multiple sclerosis made holding his collectables impossible.

Lindsey Braune, a director at Cotswold Auctions, told the Gloucestershire Echo: "It's not every day that we're asked to sell a single collection of more than 2,000 pieces, so we're excited and delighted to do it.

"The collector has really enjoyed getting all the pieces but 90 per cent of it is now in the loft and he can't get it down any more.

"He is keeping a few pieces and now this is a great opportunity for other collectors."

The collection is available to view online at Cotswold Auction's website and lots wil be on view at The Bingham Hall in Kings Street in Cirencester from 10am to 7pm on Thursday, March 6th.

The sale begins at 10am on March 7th at the Bingham Hall.