A top auction house has put up for sale the private collection of an antiques dealer who had royalty and celebrities coming through his door.

Roger Warner, who died earlier this year, numbered among his clients the Queen's grandmother, Queen Mary, as well as her sister Princess Margaret.

Celebrities of the day also visited his shop in Burford High Street, including Walt Disney, Peter Ustinov and the Mitford sisters.

He also became something of a celebrity himself as an expert on BBC's Going for a Song antiques show on TV in the 1960s and 70s.

Just as impressive, however, were his links to some of the greats of an earlier age through his acumen in the trade.

Items in his private collection, which is going for auction through the world-famous London house of Christie's, include the desk chair that poet William Wordsworth used at his Lakeland home of Rydal Mount.

There is also a dolls house decorated by another 19th century literary giant, Charlotte Bronte.

They are among some of the 700 items Christie's will auction on January 20 and 21, and are expected to realise more than £800,000. Christie's director Andrew Waters, who is in charge of the sale, said: "Roger's discernment gave him a legendary reputation and a lasting importance.

"This auction will open the doors to an astounding treasure trove of fascinating pictures, furniture and works of art — the very personal and private collection of a modest but remarkable man."

In Burford the man who ran the legendary shop Simon Wisdom's — itself dating back to the 17th century — is fondly remembered.

Kathleen Wain, ex-town mayor who also helped husband Greville run the town's Vick's Byway Garage for more than 20 years, said: "Roger had many famous people coming to visit him, He was well-known in the antiques business.

"I still have his book Roger Warner's Antiques, which he gave me.

"He and his wife Ruth had three children and they still come and visit us on occasions."

Mr Warner, a Cornishman, arrived in Burford in 1936 and ran his antiques business for 50 years.

With his help, many valuable items from around the country were left in the stewardship of several museums, including the Ashmolean, in Oxford.

He also helped to set up Burford's own Tolsey Museum, in the High Street, and sometimes used to run a junk stall on the Tolsey steps. He was a lifelong Quaker.