In his lifetime the Great Omani was a celebrity, but since his death, the escapologist the has become a legend.

Books about the star have been selling on eBay for £25, five times the original cover price.

The stuntman, whose real name was Ron Cunningham, died at his home in Norfolk Street, Brighton on October 15, aged 92.

His extravagant funeral took place on October 30 and required a police escort.

Within 24 hours his family spotted items of memorabilia commemorating the worldfamous performer for sale on eBay.

Vanessa Cunningham, the wife of Ron's grandson Tony, discovered books and an auction for an item claiming to be Omani's famous straitjacket.

In his heyday Omani used to escape from the straitjacket while hanging from the cliffs in Peacehaven or while tied to Bognor pier.

Mrs Cunningham, 38, of Hardwick Road, Hangleton, said: "My husband and I were messing around on the internet and I saw the Great Omani's straitjacket.

"We looked at each other and said, It can't be'."

Mrs Cunningham immediately called her father-in-law David Cunningham, who lived with his dad in Norfolk Street and cared for him in his later years.

She said: "I called Dave and said, Is granddad's magic straitjacket underneath the stairs? Because they're selling it on eBay.' He said he knew he still had it because he saw it the day before.

"I was so gobsmacked. We knew it was false and I knew Dave wouldn't have got rid of it.

"The auction had three days left on it."

David Cunningham said: "It is ridiculous. They are trying to catch him but they can't."

The sale has now closed but wherever the straitjacket came from, it did not belong to the Great Omani.

The Cunningham family have now decided to donate the Great Omani's possessions to Brighton Museum to make sure they are protected and kept for future generations.

They will arrange to show items such as Omani's press cuttings, photo albums, postcards and his straitjacket.

The museum will then take the proposal to a formal acquisitions panel to decide whether to accept the offer.

Mrs Cunningham added: "I'd rather the items go to somewhere that people can enjoy them."

  • To view the Great Omani's funeral procession, click here