A COLLECTION of never-before-published photos and memorabilia portraying Monty Python star Eric Idle is going on auction in South Cerney.

The large collection of photographs, signed books, and even a pair of Eric Idle's trousers from when he was a child, are going under the hammer at Dominic Winter auctioneers in South Cerney on October 8.

Eric was a member of the English surreal comedy group Monty Python.

The box of memorabilia contains around 150-200 items and was kept for 18 years by an anonymous Monty Python fan, who bought it after Eric's mother Nora died and items from her Los Angeles home were put up for sale.

The whole lot is expected to be sold  between £5,000 and £7,000.

"Monty Python memorabilia does not come onto the market as often as other comedy memorabilia," said auctioneer Chris Albury. "It's clear there is still lots of enthusiasm for them with their sell out shows."

Chris went on to say that the box contains lots of candid photos of Eric and other Python stars, letters from Eric to his mother, and pictures of Eric as a child.

"There are a few in frames too and a couple of Monty Python posters in frames," he added. "There are childhood photos. Eric's dad died when he was aged one or two so the pictures are of Eric and his mum. They were obviously very fond of each other."

The collection also contains a letter sent home from Wolverhampton School asking Eric's mum to "not bring salad, only bring strawberries".

The whole collection goes up for sale as one lot on October 8.