A RARE family group of mammoths is to go under the hammer later this year.

The skeletons of a male, female, adolescent female and one-year-old infant are being sold at Summers Place Auctions in Billingshurst.

The group, which come from a private collector, are expected to be sold for between £250,000 and £400,000.

In 2013 a single mammoth skeleton was sold for £150,000.

Auction specialist Rupert van der Werff has begun assembling the almost complete collection of skeletons.

He has already finished putting together the infant mammoth, which stands 1.3 metres tall.

Mr van der Werff said: “It is very rare to find skeletons of a family group like this,

“I think it is only one of two groups in the world to have been found.

“It is very exciting.”

The mammoths were discovered in the Tomsk region of Siberia in 2002 while building works were being carried out.

They were evacuated using authorised procedures and have been shown at various museums in the past.

Mammoths in that area have been found to be smaller than those in other areas.

It is believed they have been under the ice for about 16,000 years.

Mr van der Werff said: “It may not sound like it but in terms of what I deal with, that is relatively recent.

“That is probably one of the reasons why the skeletons were in good condition.

“We intend to for them to go as a group which will have a great appeal.

“We have never sold a family of four mammoths before but we are sure they will cause a lot of interest.”

The mammoths are part of the auction house’s Evolutions sale, which will be taking place on November 21.

Other lots being prepared are expected to include a great auk skeleton and a plesiosaurus.

This is a large marine reptile that lived during the early part of the Jurassic period.

Although they are extinct, every year there are a high number of unconfirmed reported sightings of creatures often described to resemble the plesiosaurus.

This includes the Loch Ness Monster.