STAFF at a Bourton-on-the-Water charity shop have nothing to sniff about after one of their donated goods sold at auction for £2,000.

A member of staff from the town's Sue Ryder charity shop found a small snuffbox among donations dropped off at the shop and realised it might have some value.

They carried out someonline research and believed it was an early 20th Century arts and crafts style period oval table snuffbox worth around £300.

But when they took it to local auctioneers Tayler and Fletchers for valuation they were told it was much rarer than they had realised.

Specialists Stephen Sheppard and Martin Lambert were struck by the sheer quality of the piece and on closer inspection it had been made by William Robb, a Scottish silversmith so renowned he had been commissioned to craft several pieces for Queen Victoria.

It went under the hammer at a sale in Cheltenham with the gavel finally falling at £2,000.

Bourton's Sue Ryder manager Deborah Payne said she had been delighted when she first heard the result.

"The snuffbox just came in as a donation and we don't even know who from," she said. "It's such a fantastic result."

For more on the auction see Property, page 50.

Do you know where the snuffbox came from? Get in touch with reporter Megan Archer on 01285 627319.