Cufflinks belonging to Mr Showmanship himself have been sold for thousands of pounds to an overseas buyer.

The ivory pieces, in the shape of a grand piano, once belonged to showbiz legend Liberace but were auctioned on Tuesday for £2,200.

They had been valued between £2,200 and £2,500 and were sold after an opening bid of £1,500 to an unknown buyer.

Auctioneer Ross Mercer said: "I think the buyer had known Liberace and worked with him and I believe he is American. I was very pleased indeed with the sale.

"We had four or five bids but most dropped out before the £2,000 mark. It was a very hard thing to value but it seems we got it right."

The cufflinks are only one pair in a set of three. The others are believed to be owned by pop stars Prince and Sir Elton John.

The ones sold this week were owned by the late Sussex entertainer Russ Conway, who was friends with Liberace.

Mr Conway left them to his chauffeur in his will. The chauffeur put them up for sale at Gorringes Auction Galleries in Terminus Road, Bexhill.