Cherished photos and memorabilia left by a wartime pilot may have been mistakenly picked up by bidders at a museum auction.

David Peters, 75, loaned the items to the D-Day Museum of Aviation at Shoreham airport last year but they have since vanished.

His elder brother, air-gunner William Peters, died at the age of 20 when his plane crashed on a reconnaissance mission in Norway during the Second World War.

Mr Peters inherited several items from his brother, including photographs, his pilot's log book, a telegram stating he was missing and a posthumous letter from King George VI.

The former RAF engineer decided to loan the items to the museum rather than keep them tucked away at his home in Hangleton Gardens, Hove.

The museum framed the souvenirs and put them on display.

Since then, they have gone missing and Mr Peters is hoping someone will some forward with information about where the items are now.

Last month the museum's co-owners Ken Rimell and Barry Fields auctioned their entire collection after mounting costs forced them to shut down.

Mr Peters' items are not recorded in the lots but there are fears someone who bought items at the auction may have picked them up by mistake and taken them away.

Mr Peters said: "I gave the museum those items on the understanding they would display them. They were not to be sold.

"The auctioneers say they have no record of them so I have no idea what has become of them but I am amazed they have not been logged.

"Apart from a few faded photographs, they were the only historical record of my brother and were going to be passed on through the family.

"I wanted something for the future.

"I am not blaming anyone. I just want to know what has happened to them and hopefully get them back."

Mr Rimell said: "It was always made abundantly clear to everybody when they handed something in they were donating it to the museum.

"To come back now and say 'What has happened to them?', I'm afraid, is a bit late.

"There was a big notice on the desk saying loans were not accepted - he couldn't have missed it."

"It's possible someone picked them up thinking it was part of their lot.

"I have told Mr Peters if anyone comes forward with them, I will get in touch with him.

"Otherwise I have no idea what has happened to the items."